Unroadworthy vehicles a big risk
ENSURING your vehicle is roadworthy is essential, especially if you plan to travel during the festive season.
Many drivers knowingly put their lives at risk by getting behind the wheel even when they know there is a problem with the car.
“School holidays are a few weeks away and our roads are going to be getting busier. Having unroadworthy vehicles on our roads at this time is a recipe for disaster,” Motor Industry Workshop Association (Miwa) director Pieter Niemand said.
It is a legal requirement in South Africa that all cars must be in a roadworthy condition.
Taxis and buses must undergo a roadworthy test every year and a roadworthy certificate must be presented before a new car can be registered.
The fact that roadworthy certificates are only presented for cars on change of ownership means that, for many drivers, roadworthiness might not be top of mind.
“Periodic roadworthy testing is not compulsory in South Africa. However, driving a car that is not roadworthy is not only risky on the roads, it’s also risky when it comes to your finances.
“Most car insurance claims will not be paid out if it is found that the vehicle involved in the accident was not in a roadworthy condition,” Niemand said.
THE third generation of BMW’s X3, which was launched in Portugal last month, has managed to evade the ugly stick that seemed to have afflicted the second and first generations. For its new looks you can thank exterior designer Calvin Luk, who was also responsible for the current X1, the 1 Series facelift and the Z4 concept first shown at Pebble Beach Concours a few weeks ago.
The company’s latest raft of sport utility vehicles have featured bigger and more assertive grilles. The X7 concept, shown at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, is a prime example and the new X3 follows that trajectory.
While some might find it overwhelming, it’s impossible to ignore – which is arguably the whole point.
That said, the new model’s proportions are every bit as agreeable and you would be hard-pressed to find an angle that looks incongruent with the rest of the package.
It is in the cabin appointments that there has been the most significant move upmarket, with lashings of satin silver plastics adorning the cabin in a 7 Series manner.
This was particularly evident in the sporty M40i, the first M Performance model to be introduced into the X3 range. The X3’s significance is not only about the sheer brilliance that is the third generation model, but also the fact it will now be built at the Rosslyn plant in Tshwane.
According to Klaus von Moltke, head of project X3, the first full production models should roll off the assembly line by December.
I am confident the local assembly will churn out world-class X3 models, which will at this stage supply most of Europe.
The Spartanburg, South Carolina plant in the US, which has been responsible for production of all X models, has reached overcapacity.
The BMW board has delegated production of the X3 to countries such as China and South Africa to meet demands. This bodes well for us as many of the model’s parts will be locally sourced, which shows investor confidence in the country.
Back to the X3, though, and the M40i in particular, which will be the high-performance offering until the X3M makes its debut in the not-too-distant future. It is distinguishable from its siblings by the anthracite kidney grille and wing mirrors and 21-inch M Performance wheels with mixed tyres, which are home to blue M Performance brake calipers.
At the rear, dual trapezoidal exhausts sprouting out on either side belt out a melodic straight-six howl at lofty revs.
The cabin has sports seats, M40i badges and a thick-rimmed M Sport wheel. Overall, it melds a high-premium polish and tactility with just the right hint of sportiness.
While the overhangs have basically remained the same, the wheelbase has been extended slightly, giving rear occupants a bit more leg room. The boot has remained fairly unchanged.
We spent a lot of time at the wheel of the M40i, which with its 3.0l Twin Power turbo engine making 265kW and 500Nm, is a peach of a performer.
Allied to the xDrive four-wheel drive and the eight-speed automatic replete with launch control, this will be the X3 of choice for those who enjoy a sporty streak.
Snaking through the winding roads of Sintra outside Lisbon, I found the response of the engine immediate, the grip levels prodigious and body control superb.
The M Performance sports exhaust adds a fruity soundtrack to the cocktail.
When the model is launched here towards the end of this year, it will be available in xDrive30i (185kW and 350Nm), xDrive20d (140kW and 400Nm), xDrive30d (195kW and 620Nm) and headlined by the M40i.
Pricing will start at R684 200, rising to R991 100 and the new X3 should be on showroom floors by the end of this month. – BDLive