Marketing is everything these days. You can have the most innovative product or compelling service, but if customers do not know you exist, or they don’t know how your product or service solves a real problem for them, your brand will fail. It is important for entrepreneurs to understand the basics of marketing right at the beginning.
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Brand Africa founder, Thebe Ikalafeng, today announced the launch of the Africa Brand Leadership Academy (ABLA), the first Africa-focused specialist brand leadership academy aimed at sharpening the minds that build brands that build Africa.
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The Suzuki Vitara Brezza, a dynamic and well-specified SUV, lands in South Africa in GL and GLX specification and with the choice of manual or automatic transmission. It is available immediately at any of Suzuki’s 71 dealers.
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Fake news is described as false or misleading information, presented as news. But how does one know if the information they have is misleading or indeed false?
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Music was one of those things that lifted our spirits and helped carry us through the lows of 2020. And with a new year now upon us, music will continue to be our companion throughout 2021. As your favourite artists release their brand new hits, or if you just want to re-listen to some of your old favourites, you will be blasting your speakers and singing and dancing along to these amazing tunes.
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Once upon a time in Mzansi, “driving” a 2 series meant that you didn’t have a car and you were a “journey walker”. Today, driving a 2 series means that you could be driving one of the finest cars in the market – the BMW 218i M Sport Gran Coupe.
From the outside, the first thing that catches your attention immediately when you look at the BMW 218i Gran Coupe is the Misano Blue metallic. The colour is so unique and distinct. It is impossible not to notice the car.
From the front, the M Sport model puts its command for attention on another level. The day-time running LED headlights and fog lights just tells you that this is a modern-day car. The aerodynamics package with front apron, side skirts coupled with the BMW kidney grille gives the car a sportier look. It is fitted with 18″ M light double-spoke bicolour wheels.
The dynamic frameless doors complete the sporty profile.
In terms of the rear of the 218i Gran Coupe borrowed some of its looks from the 8 series. The long tail lights as they extend to the centre. In my view, the rear does not look as sexy as the front. It doesn’t have that thing.
When you step inside the car, it’s like you are entering a whole new world, it looks like a mini spaceship, with a technologically advanced cockpit. You are also greeted by the large screen infotainment system and digital speedometer. The interior is exquitely designed, it has sport seats for driver and front passenger in cloth ‘Trigon’ Sensatec. At night, it’s got ambient lighting on the doors.
One of my favorite features in the car in the Harman Kardon sound system. It one of the best sound systems I have experienced in a car. Whether you are jamming to Amapiano or hip hop it delivers quality sound.
Over your head, you’ve got a panoramic sunroof that stretches all the way to the back. It is however optional.
If there is one word to describe the technology in the car, that word is impressive. The 218i Gran Coupe really boasts some cool technology features including the parking assistant, which is helpful for drivers who find parallel and perperndicular parking challenging. It also has a reverse assistant feature which stores the steering movements for any section the car has just driven forward along at no more than 36 km/h. The system is then able to steer the vehicle in reverse – for distances of up to 50 metres at a maximum 9 km/h – along exactly the same line it took when moving forward.
I also found the voice command, which is triggered by uttering the words “Hey BMW” very easy to use. It also has AppleCar Play, which automatically connects without a cable.
Check out my instagram reels on these cool features.
BMW has really delivered on its promise of Sheer Driving Pleasure with the 218 Gran Coupe. It is an absolute joy being behind the wheel of the 218i Gran Coupe. It equipped with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (103kW/ 220Nm), mated to a six-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox.
Acceleration = 8.7 seconds 0-100km/h.
Most die-hard BMW fans will be a bit disappointed to find out that the 218i is a front wheeler, however, if you have deeper pockets you may opt for the 235i or the 220d which are all-wheel drives. Nonetheless, it is a fun car to drive.
If you seating in the front seats there is enough leg-room. I found the rear seats not having sufficient space and I am not the tallest person. The sloping coupe roofline compromises headroom when the rear seats are occupied.
The 430-litre boot capacity is expandable, courtesy of 40:20:40 split flat-fold rear seats. There are a number of storage compartments for things like your phone, cup holders and side. I must say the storage is not that generous. Everything is just compact.
The starting price for the BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport is R589 500. Book a test drive here.
I thoroughly enjoyed testing the BMW 218i M Sport Gran Coupe and it gets Pat from. What do you think? Leave a comment down below.
Please check out my previous car reviews
The Opel Combo Life 1.6 Turbo Diesel is probably the most versatile car that I have ever driven. It is perfectly fit for purpose, particularly for someone who lives a highly versatile life. Whether you are a family woman or man, a business owner, or love adventure. The Combo Life is suitable every lifestyle.
Opel combo comes into variations, Combo Life and Combo Cargo. The later is for strictly business, as it as a panel van.
I’m a mountain biker, so every now I and then my friends and I visit various cycling trails so what I loved the most with the Combo Life is that I can easily tuck my bike in the car with ease, without having to remove bicycle’s wheel like I would in a normal hatchback car. The is no need for a bicycle carrier as well. Not only I could fit my own bike, but friends’ too. I just needed to fold the rear seats and voila the car was now a panel van.
There is storage for days. Actually, you will run out things to store in the Combo Life than storage space. It has countless storage solutions. With the rear seats folded down, you get a whopping 2 126 liters of storage.
Like I always say, the goodness of any car is in the driving (check my previous review here). Opel has done a great job in making the Combo Life a solid car and pleasurable to drive. The 1.6 Turbo Diesel engine produces 68kW and 230Nm of torque and coupled with a 5-speed gearbox. At times the turbo takes a bit of time to kick in, so you need to make sure that you get the gear selection right.
Fuel consumption of any is often linked to the driver’s driving style. I found the Combo Life’s fuel consumption pretty good it lived up Opel’s claimed 5L/100km.
When it comes to safety rest assured, the Combo Life is fitted with 6 airbags, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), electronic stability programme (ESP), traction control and hill-start assist.
It is also fitted with IntelliLink Infotainment System that features a 7-inch touchscreen that is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay enabled. So, there is no need for an AUX cable.
The Cobo life is competitively priced with prices starting from R399 000 and comes with 3 years/120 000KM warranty and roadside assistance, Anti-Corrosion Warranty – 12 Years / Unlimited km, and Service Plan – 3 Years / 60 000 km.
Now that South Africa is on Level 2 of the national lockdown a road trip in the Opel Combo Life will be a great idea. Request a test drive here.
Acoustic Star Events is giving anyone who books their events’ technical services free fogging of the venue before and after they host an event.
South Africa is under lockdown with businesses allowed to operate according to a phased reopening of the economy. All businesses are required to adhere to all the rules and regulations put in place in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. Most importantly, businesses are required to create a safe and virus free environment for both their employees and consumers.
The pandemic has also revolutionized the way we do business, how we interact with colleagues or business associates. In addition, it has forced organizations to learn to adapt to this new and unpredictable normal by changing things in the workplace. The government has put stringent measures in places such as the constant washing of hands, social distancing, and Sanitizing.
Now that the economy is gradually opening up and people can actually have their face-face gatherings, Acoustic Star events is rendering a free antiviral Fogging services for clients that are willing to use their facilities to hold meetings during these unprecedented times.
This is to assist businesses to meet all government regulations. Fogging will be done before and after every meeting. Gatherings are limited to 50 persons only.
The company is based in Gauteng and has offices in Limpopo which specializes in lighting, audiovisual, backline, videography and photography, audio systems, and staging.
The campaign will run from 27 July 2020 to 30 September 2020.
There are wars you create, and there are some wars you find yourself in. But there are some wars that will never end (at bars and nail salons).
The BMW M5 vs Mercedes Benz -AMG E63 is one that will never end, and while in lockdown both German manufacturers were hard at work finalising their Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) or Facelift. An LCI is a process within the motoring industry to revitalise the look and feel of the same car model for the sole purpose of increasing sales without redeveloping the entire car. Both camps were due to revive the look beginning of this year for the entire model but delays resulted in a June online launch.
Mercedes this time, did not just do mid life rejuvenation design but rather a design overhaul (not uncommon), the reason for this I can only attribute to the fact that the “grill look” that was first found on the Green Monster, the Mercedes-AMG GT coupe.
They are currently adding on that beautifully aggressive look on every top end AMG and I think it did not sit well with the design team that boss-zonke, dzaddy, would retain an old look while the A45 AMG, upcoming C class, G 63 etc would have the new look. I do think they could have made it work but, it matters not that they didn’t like it.
What we have here is a 450KW with 700 Nm V8 (which didn’t change) in a new body. It retains 0-100 in 3.4 seconds which means it should still do a drag sprint in 11 seconds. I have to admit, it looks glorious in pictures but not as threatening as much as the previous look. It’s more subtle; the front lights are smaller (beautiful design inside) and the backlights are thinner. But apart from that, the front bumper gets massive air intakes to remind you that this is no regular Merc. The back bumper carries the massive diffuser and the signature square quad pipes that stick out nicely I’m sure that lovely V8 will sound all the more crazy!
The inside gets a new Steering wheel which looks amazing, it has some alcantara and leather for that sportiness feel. They have added Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system (with the famous dual displays) to increase to tech capabilities of this machine. They have removed the scrolling wheel and retained a touch sensitive pad to control the UI. The displays are also touch screens for multiple input methods. Inside, this car represents luxury like no other in its class through the layout, high quality leather and gloss trimming on the dashboard. The bucket sporty seats are in fine leather and I’m sure as a cruiser, they do the business!
On the other hand, the BMW M5 received small but noticeable changes on the look and feel of the whole car, but I’m not a fan of most of the visual aesthetics compared to the pre-LCI M5 Competition. Hear me out: the front lights are the more amazing of the changes, they look special with the BMW laser technology light pack, the redesign just, works! They truly embody the “scary and “powerful car” face. They are also accompanied by the new, much larger grill (for those that don’t know, China loves big grills and research has shown that cars with big grills sell more – any manufacturer would be a fool to not listen to the biggest market in the World). The grill is 20% larger to the side and below but without being BMW 7 Series grill size (or BMW X7!!) and to be honest, it looks ready to scare whatever car in front. One last important change is the exhaust: they have thinner walls and a high-gloss black coating for much louder noise!
Other than that, every change that BMW made cannot compare to the pre-LCI simply because the changes are not scary enough for an M5 Competition. This car, is the top of the pack of the M5s (until the limited edition M5 CS) and it should show from every inch and every angle: the bumper is very muted, it lacks all the right creases that make a bumper look like a mouth opened to suck all the air from other “not important cars”. Instead they put these carbon patches that hide the creases – which tells me that BMW obviously wanted to change the look of the front dramatically.
The second change that is not comparable is the rear lights. The rear lights look really designed and pack a lot of 3D fancy elements and if this was a normal 5 Series I would love them. But this is an M5, these lights just don’t have a good enough presence to replace pre-LCI. They look too simple to design yet, have complicated bits. Don’t get me wrong, they are really great, and they have a muscular look to them, but I think the BMW Light designers relaxed a bit there. One thing that goes unnoticed and yet speaks true to the character of the M5 model is the carbon fiber roof; It is not only visually attractive but its a technological stance that BMW adds to further imprint the //M DNA within their M cars. The carbon fiber roof is a weight saving measure, but its also a way to direct where most of the car’s weight must be, on the floor of the car. The reason for this is felt more in cornering. The M5 is a Luxury sedan but it manages to feel more nimble in corners than its rivals – in more direct terms comparison terms; the M5 Competition weighs around 1,865kg while the Mercedes-AMG E63s is around 1,880kg and as we know, speed is very sensitive to weight.
Speaking of which, the power plant on the M5 Competition is 10KW more than the Merc rival, at 460KW and an earth moving 750Nm. This allows the M5 Comp to reach 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds which is faster than the E63s. But, trust me, 0.1 of a difference cannot change your mind on buying either one of these. The gearbox to handle such power is the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with M Drivelogic gearshift management which delivers super fast gearshifts. At low speeds, you might miss certain gear changes because it is that smooth. BMW also took learnings from the M8 Gran Coupe to further smoothen the ride: there are new shock absorbers and a retuned chassis which will elevate the experience in this beas
Inside the M5, I have nothing but complements. It comes with an increased 12.3-inch central screen for to navigate the infotainment. Once you are settled in the much praised bucket seats, you will be greeted with a fully digital Live Cockpit instead of the normal speedometer dials. Near the gear knob you will find the new M Mode button and the SETUP control button. These two button allow you to either sharpen (SPORT) or soften (ROAD) the character of the M5 depending on your activity. There is also TRACK mode which, you should not use all the time given this is a family car! The seats of the M5 are very comfortable, just like they were on the previous generation. They really deal well with the bumps while on SPORT mode on South African roads.
In conclusion, to Compare these two cars is nonsensical because you cannot help but appreciate both cars. They are solving a societal issue with evenly matched answers. They both have V8s, both over 400Kw which is insane, both have an Automatic gear box and have 4WD + 2WD modes, they are both Luxury mammoths! How do you separate the two? With 0.1 real life differences? I personally don’t think that little amount of difference makes one a winner. These cars exist to give people options. You are either 1 or the other!
So there it is, I am saying you can’t separate these. Just spend your R2m on what your heart wants!
The Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Turbo GLX is the seventh Suzuki I’ve reviewed. I’ve done Suzuki reviews from the Swift to the Ertiga. If you believe in the bible and numerology you would understand the significance of the number 7, it is a symbolic number. Above all, the number 7 is a positive number. Some numerologists believe that the number 7 is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the world. This sums up my experience with the Suzuki Vitara.
It is a symbolic number. Above all, the number 7 is a positive number. Some numerologists believe that the number 7 is so perfect and powerful that it represents a connection to the world. This sums up my experience with the Suzuki Vitara.
The Suzuki Vitara is uniquely designed and a definite head-turner. The two-tone colour co-ordination coupled with the 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome details and daytime LED running lights makes it look modern yet strong and muscular. In the rear, it’s got an intricate design for its taillights. It is a stylish car.
I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped inside the Suzuki Vitara, particularly by the suede and synthetic leather seats. The door trim inserts are also covered with suede. Suzuki has done an amazing job with the interior. Compared to the previous six Suzukis I reviewed, I found the Vitara luxurious. The air vents though could use with a touch of detail. They look a bit flimsy.
I must say the Vitara is also the most technologically advanced Suzuki I have ever reviewed. It is fitted with an infotainment system that comes standard with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The drawback however, is the touch-sensitive pad of the volume on the side. A physical dial could have been much easier. To make up for that, the steering wheel is mounted with audio controls.
Parking the Vitara is made easier as it is equipped with rear and front parking sensors. It also has a rearview camera.
One of my favourite features is the keyless entry with push-start because sometimes you are carrying a lot of things on your hands and having to take out the key to unlock the car be quite a mission. The keyless entry makes life easy by just pushing the button on the door handle or the boot as long the key is on you.
Like I always say, the proof of how good a car is in how it drives. The Suzuki Vitara lives up to its brand promise of “Drive The Fun”. Indeed, the Vitara is a fun car to drive thanks to the responsive 1.4 L Turbo BoosterJet engine and the 6-speed manual transmission gearbox (also available in an automatic transmission). The engine produces a whopping 103 kW power and a torque of 200 Nm. Even though we are on lockdown I managed to drive the Vitara on the highway and it was a smooth drive. The cruise control left me longing for a long-distance trip.
In terms of fuel consumption, the Vitara is exceptional for a car of its size, with 5.8 litres per 100KM.
As a compact SUV, I think Suzuki has done a great job of ensuring that the Vitara has a sizeable storage capacity. The boot is large for a car its size with 375 litres 1120 litres if the rear seats are folded flat. The boot features a removable parcel shelf which creates more space, and there’s a binnacle on either side of the cargo area for smaller items. The spare wheel is the space-saver type so bear this in mind when going off-road.
There are also two cup holders in the front for the driver and passenger and pockets on the doors. There’s also storage under the central armrest.
The Suzuki Vitara 1.4 Turbo GLX 6-speed manual is competitively priced at R386 900 whilst the automatic transmission is priced at R405 900.
The Suzuki Vitara gets a definite Pat from me. As the meaning of the number 7, it is a perfect compact SUV.
As the fight against Covid-19 continues, more and more brands are announcing their donations. Nestlé is also one of those brands that are making a contribution to fighting the invisible enemy.
“We are working hard to keep our employees, customers and the communities where we operate safe,” stated Bruno Olierhoek, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé, East and Southern Africa Region today, as he announced the company’s contribution to various Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts across the region.
He emphasized that the contributions are part of Nestlé’s purpose, which is to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. Below are the amounts of donations and beneficiaries:
“At Nestlé, we believe that business results and positive societal impact should be mutually reinforcing. To achieve this, we need to create value for our employees, our customers and for society. We are also driven to positively contribute to the communities where we live and work. Therefore, being involved in community-development projects is just one of the many ways we make an impact.”
“We further recognize that dealing with the current challenge pandemic cannot be apportioned to Governments alone but that, as a business, we have a responsibility. This is a societal challenge that requires a societal response,” added Olierhoek.
In the coming weeks, the company is expected to make further COVID-19 relief announcements around community-initiatives, frontline workers support as part of its ongoing response.
We are on Week 2 of the national lockdown and most of us haven’t been driving our cars since the lockdown began. Just like many of you I also haven’t been driving my car for a while now. In actual I haven’t been driving my in almost two months thanks to the kind manufacturers for the test cars (please check my recent review).
I have therefore come to learn that there are certain parts of the car that get compromised when the car is parked for too long. These parts can be costly to replace and given that we don’t know how long the pandemic is going to last. You might want to take some precautionary measures to ensure that your car is in good working condition when you want to drive it again.
Below are the top five tips on how to make sure your car remains in a good condition during the lockdown.
The battery of the car is probably the first component that is more likely to let you down when the car has been parked for too long. To avoid the battery running flat and having to ask someone to help you jump-start or push your car, it is recommended that you start the engine and let it run for 10-15 minutes once a week. This will help in lubricating the engine and prevent dead battery cells from developing.
If you can’t switch on the engine at all, you may disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to prevent discharge.
As we stay to flatten the curve during the lockdown, unfortunately, our car tyres can run flat as well. Some parts of the tyres can begin to rot as well. This is not ideal, but it can be avoided. Moving the car every few days can help prevent flat spots on the tyres. If the flat spots are serious you may need to replace the tyers, which is quite an expensive exercise.
We’ve always been told to engage the handbrake when we park our cars, however, when the car is parked for too long the brake pads can get stuck to the disc or drums. There are two things that you can do avoid this:
When a car is parked outside for a long it gets exposed to many elements that can end up damaging it. For example, direct sunlight can damage the paint on the car as well as the interior. Also, bad weather e.g hail can dent your car. So it is important to park your car in a garage for protection. If you don’t have a garage good quality cover that is suitable for your car.
I hope you found value in this article. Please remember to share with your friends and family.
It is without a doubt that the coronavirus pandemic is having an immense impact on how we conduct our businesses today. Some (if not most) companies will seize to exist post the pandemic. The companies that cannot digitise are unfortunately dying (unless they have billions of rands in reserves to sustain them).
The implementation of the nationwide lockdown means that customers’ mobility is extremely limited. Only the “essential” movement of customers is allowed, whether they are going to buy food or medication, visiting a doctor and/or they are going to work because their work is critical to keep the country going.
If your company has spent millions of rands on Out-Of-Home advertising, unfortunately, that money is as good as being flushed down the drain because the billboard on the M1 is not getting any attention. Or, if your company relies on high foot traffic to generate revenue, it is doomed. So what should companies be doing at this moment?
Now more than ever, digital marketing has become more important for businesses. It cannot be treated as an after-thought anymore. Companies and organisations need to have a digital-first approach when introducing new campaigns or products and services. Digital marketing allows brands to reach customers wherever they are and whenever they want to.
As more and more people stay at home, they are more glued to their screens searching and watching content. The #OnlineQuarantineParty is a great example of reaching customers where ever they are. Artists are not getting booked and bookings got cancelled due to the pandemic. So, it was fitting to host online parties to keep their fans entertained and remain top of mind. The #OnlineQuarantineParty got thousands of fans glued to their mobile screens and jamming to their favourite DJs. Channel O is now broadcasting it live on TV and Hunter’s Dry is sponsoring therefore the artists will be able to earn some money.
Webinars are also becoming popular. Platforms such as Zoom have seen an increase in the number of users since the lockdown began. Teams can have meetings and collaborate irrespective of where they are in the world. Other people are also using the platform for social purposes.
The sporting fraternity is also dabbling with the idea of using Virtual Reality(VR) and Augmented Reality(AR) as a way keeping their fans engaged in the next year. However, the challenge VR and AR at this point is 5G. According to Liverpool FC’s Vice President of Digital Media and Marketing – Drew Crisp the maturity of 5G is going to bring about the technical possibility of VR and AR properly. Fans will not be going to the stadiums for quite some time therefore, online content is also key for social media.
Adidas a sports apparel brand is also taking advantage of the growing e-sport phenomenon by teaming up with Google’s Jacquard. The Adidas GMR (short for gamer) implants soccer boots with microchips that reward players’ activity with Fifa Mobile rewards. GMR allows football fans to connect their real-life training to that of their digital football teams on their mobiles. The insole smart tag gathers data from real-life play and translates it into digital rewards.
To conclude, now more than ever before digital has become important. Companies that do not embrace it are unfortunately going to suffer the consequences. It is those companies that will make the necessary investments in improving their digital capabilities that will thrive while the rest die.
Should you wish to up your digital game email pat@patonbrands.com for digital marketing solutions suitable for your business.
I got to spend a week with the Citroën’s flagship SUV, C5 AirCross. At first glance, the C5 Aircross looks robust and muscular. Its unique personality and strong style choices such as its Airbump® inspired lower door and wheel arch protectors and roof bars, make it 100% Citroën in its design and character.
Like I always say, the proof of how amazing a car is is in the driving. It doesn’t how amazing a car looks if the drive is bad the car is as good as nothing. So, I drove the C5 Aircross down to the beautiful City of Mbombela aka Nelspruit about 4 hours from Johannesburg. All I can is that it was pure joy driving the car. Although the roads were a bit wet, the C5 Aircross had its grip on the winding roads of Schoemans Kloof.
The drive is smooth and quiet thanks to the soundproofing with reduced road noise and wind noise thanks to double-glazed laminated front windows with an insulated layer. Citroën paid more to the soundproofing of the engine compartment as well.
The C5 Aircross 1.6 THP 121kW petrol engine coupled with the responsive EAT6 automatic gearbox made the drive long-distance drive all worth it.
Although the C5 Aircross looks vigorous outside when you get inside the level comfort is unmatched and everything works at the touch of a button. The interior features a less cluttered dashboard with a horizontal layout. It is fitted with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen on the dashboard covering the infotainment functions.
C5 Aircross SUV excels through its comfort and spacious interior thanks to the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme. The programme features two major innovations: Citroën’s new suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions® and Advanced Comfort. An innovation that filters and absorbs major and minor surface unevenness to give occupants the feeling of flying smoothly over the road while ensuring outstanding poise and vitality.
The C5 Aircross has ample storage. The central armrest has large storage capacity that can fit a 1-liter bottle. That’s how deep it is. In terms of boot space, it has the best-in-class boot volume of 520-litres to 720-litres (depending on second row seat position). The rear seats can slide, fold and reclined. There is also extra storage space on the door pockets which are large enough.
When it comes to the safety of the C5 Aircross rest assured. The C5 Aircross is equipped with parking sensors and fog lights with static corner function. Turning headlights are Citroën’s invention. I found the coffee break alert feature very useful especial during the trip to Mbombela. The coffee alert comes up when you’ve been driving for two hours at 70 KM/h and above.
The starting price for the C5 Aircross is R474 900 and it comes with a 5 year/ 100 000 KM warranty and service plan.
The Citroën C5 Aircross is a fantastic car and it definitely gets a Pat from me. I enjoyed driving it and I recommend that you also book a test drive if you in the market for a dynamic SUV that is suitable for your lifestyle.
South Africa’s largest flower and gifting service has teamed up with the country’s leading B2B fresh foods wholesaler and distributor, Fruitspot to bring consumers safe and timeous delivery of fresh produce. As of March 23, 2020, consumers can order fruits and vegetables from NetFlorist and get them delivered to select areas in Johannesburg North and Pretoria the next day.
A futuristic approach for delivering products straight to a person’s doorstep in the safest way possible is on the rise as Covid-19 disrupts every industry. Retailers are adjusting shopping hours, prioritising the elderly, immune-compromised, pregnant women and the disabled.
“Our business is built around sameday delivery and we grow by over 1000% over Valentine’s Day. We’re using that ability to scale up to make these necessities available to our customers over this important time,” said Ryan Bacher, Managing Director of NetFlorist. “It was perfect for us because we investigated delivering fresh produce to our customers 3 years ago and our warehouse and vehicles are already cooled to preserve the cold chain of our flowers and gifts,” added Bacher.
With the world practising accelerated hygiene, safety and social distancing, NetFlorist has increased health practices conducive to maintaining the necessary conditions and health measures that will ensure cleanliness when dealing with the delivery of food products as well as all NetFlorist flowers and gifts. “Our teams are sanitising regularly and we’ve already initiated non-contact deliveries. We’ve been delighting our customers with flowers and gifts for 20 years (and will continue to do so), now it’s time to feed them as well,” said Ryan Bacher.
The Presidential Address regarding Covid-19 reminded South Africa that every person living in the country has a role to play in ensuring we flatten the curve. The health of the nation is only achievable by the preventable measures said nation takes. NetFlorist is a proudly South African ecommerce business responding to this call.
Order seasonal fruit and vegetables from NetFlorist and enjoy shopping for your nutritional essentials from the safety of your own home today.
I got to spend a week with the expressive Peugeot 108 Active. Although, it built for the city the Peugeot is also capable on a gravel road as well. I took it for a drive to one of the lodges in Haartebeespoort. To get to the lodge there’s about a 3 KM gravel road. The road was very wet and my biggest fear was that I don’t get stuck. To my surprise the drive was very smooth thanks to the traction control.
The Peugeot 108 is fitted with a super-efficient 3-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual gearbox. The 1.o VTi engine produces 53 kW. When it comes to petroleum consumption is super frugal with average fuel consumption of 4.1l/100KM. It definitely lives up to its promise of being the perfect city. I must say though that it can use some extra power particularly on the highway and on hills. And of course this is not take away the fact that it’s meant for the urban terrain.
When it comes to safety, rest assured. The Peugeot 108 is one of the few cars in SA that is priced under R200 000 with 6 airbags, making it the safest car in its segment.
I found the Peugeot 108’s steering responsive and braking very stable in a straight line. On a bend, the electric power steering is light in town and informative on the open road.
Even when stationary, the PEUGEOT 108 exudes efficiency; The Hill Start Assist system holds the vehicle for a moment, the time it takes for the driver to move their foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.
The track is 1425mm at the front and 1420mm at the rear. Fitted with, 165/65 R14 tyres with very low rolling resistance that contributes to the overall efficiency of the vehicle. The braking system includes ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Emergency Collision Braking System and switchable ESP as standard. The braking system is completed by 247mm ventilated discs at the front and 200mm drums at the rear.
A connected car, the new PEUGEOT 108 becomes the mirror of its user’s smartphone, thanks to its large touch screen and the Mirror Screen function, including the new MirrorLink and AppInCar connectivity protocols. MirrorLink ™ is a communication protocol developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium, bringing together the main manufacturers of vehicles and electronic products, as well as developers of applications.
The touch screen in the PEUGEOT 108 becomes a mirror of the compatible smartphone connected. The driver then operates their smartphone from the car ‘s touch screen: any action on this interface works the smartphone. It also has Bluetooth® connectivity.
The 108 is a 4-seater meaning that it can comfortable fit for adults. There are two cup holders in the front and one in the middle. The glove box has a lid and will take a 1litre bottle and the door pockets a 500ml bottle. The boot space is very small but generous for its category. The boot space can however, be extended by folding the rear seats. It is fit for its purpose of being a city car.
The Peugeot 108 Active is keenly priced, staring from R184 900 and as part for Peugeot Pride programme customers will enjoy the following benefits:
Volkswagen has taken the first step in its journey towards electric mobility in South Africa through the launch of the e-Golf pilot project.
The e-Golf pilot project will see six fully electric vehicles being tested by motoring and lifestyle media, selected dealers as well as Volkswagen employees in an effort to gain valuable consumer insights into the varying experiences of driving and living with an electric vehicle in South Africa.
Through the involvement of selected Volkswagen dealers in Gauteng and Western Cape, the e-Golf pilot project seeks to drive customer awareness and education regarding electric vehicles. The e-Golfs will be used as shuttles and courtesy cars for Volkswagen customers.
“At Volkswagen, we want to democratise electric mobility and that is why the e-Golf pilot project is a key initiative for the brand. With the help of our dealers, we want to get as many South Africans as possible to drive and experience an electric vehicle as this is the future of our brand,” said Mike Glendinning, Sales and Marketing Director for Volkswagen Group South Africa.
The e-Golf pilot project includes charging infrastructure installed in Volkswagen’s Uitenhage manufacturing plant and as well as the Dealer Training Academy in Centurion, Gauteng.
The e-Golf pilot project is the first step of a three-phase approach which will pave the way for Volkswagen to include electric vehicles in its future product portfolio in South Africa. The second phase will be expanded to include a fleet of fully electric Volkswagen ID.3 vehicles from 2021.
The third and last phase of the electric mobility project will see the first fully electric Volkswagen vehicles available for sale to customers in South Africa from 2022.
The e-Golf as well as the ID.3 will not be available for sale in South Africa and will be used solely for the purposes of ensuring as many South Africans as possible get to experience life with an electric vehicle.
Customers who want to be kept informed on Volkswagen’s electric mobility journey can sign up on the Volkswagen website: www.vw.co.za
This week saw the launch of the new Isuzu D-Max Auto, and I was fortunate to attend the launch in the beautiful Mother City (Cape Town). The D-Max 250 Auto range is Isuzu’s response to the growing demand for automatic gearboxes, and they did so well by introducing five new models. Here’s what went down.
Headlining the expanded product portfolio is the eye-catching, lifestyle-oriented Isuzu D-MAX 250 X-Rider, which is now available in a five-speed automatic transmission for the first time. I call the X-Rider “The Smooth Operator” after having driven it up Chapman’s Peak, on the winding Fransschoek Pass and the gravel roads of Overberg. The drive was consistently smooth and quiet. The vehicle also complements the existing five-speed manual derivatives, available in two and four-wheel drive, that has been extremely popular in South Africa.
As crucial models in the Double Cab line-up, Isuzu has also introduced the five-speed automatic transmission to the mid-range D-MAX 250 LE, as well as the popular workhorse-oriented D-MAX 250 Hi-Ride model. The gearbox is mated to the trusted 100 kW/320 Nm 2.5-litre intercooled turbodiesel engine.
The Hi-Ride is also available with a six-speed automatic transmission derivative, powered by Isuzu’s dependable 3.0-Litre four-cylinder intercooled turbodiesel engine, which produces 130 kW of power and 380 Nm of torque.
As the most affordable offering amongst the newly introduced models, the entry-level D-MAX 250 Hi-Ride Auto is offered in extended cab form.
Also new to the Double Cab range in a Hi-Ride trim-level is the addition of a 3.0-Litre automatic model matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
| D-MAX 250 HO EXTENDED CAB HI-RIDE AUTO | R 403,200.00 |
| D-MAX 250 HO DOUBLE CAB HI-RIDE AUTO | R 435,300.00 |
| D-MAX 250 HO DOUBLE CAB LE AUTO | R 459,000.00 |
| D-MAX 300 DOUBLE CAB HI-RIDE AUTO | R 464,100.00 |
| D-MAX 250 HO DOUBLE CAB X-RIDER AUTO | R 474,700.00 |
All Isuzu D-MAX models come standard with Isuzu Complete Care, comprising a five-year/120 000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty and Isuzu Roadside Assistance, a five-year/unlimited km anti-corrosion warranty and a five-year/90 000 km Service Plan. Service intervals are every 15 000 km/12 months. Extended cover can be purchased for Roadside Assistance, Service Plans and Maintenance Plans
Amazon makes history as the first brand to exceed US$200 billion value mark and retains title of world’s most valuable brand for the third consecutive year. The e-commerce giant is followed by Google and Apple consecutively.
On the other hand, Ferrari has been awarded the title of the world’s strongest brand for the second consecutive year by Brand Finance, the leading international independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy. With a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 94.1 out of 100, Ferrari tops the rankings of only 12 brands to be awarded the highest AAA+ rating.
Presented today during the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Brand Finance Global 500 2020 report1 calculates the value of the Ferrari brand at 9.1 billion USD with year on year growth of 9%, boosted by positive sales and overall brand strength.
Brand Finance determines brand value by estimating the net economic benefit to the brand owner of licensing the trademark on the open market. It measures brand strength on the basis of the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures compared to its competitors.
The Hyundai Motor Company and Uber have announced a partnership to develop Uber Air Taxis for a future aerial ride share network and unveiled a new full-scale aircraft concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, America.
In this partnership, Hyundai will produce and deploy the air vehicles, and Uber will provide airspace support services, connections to ground transportation, and customer interfaces through an aerial ride share network. Both parties are collaborating on infrastructure concepts to support take-off and landing for this new class of vehicles.
Hyundai is the first automotive company to join the Uber Elevate initiative, bringing automotive-scale manufacturing capability and a track record of mass-producing electric vehicles.
The air vehicle concept that Hyundai displayed at the CES was created in part through Uber’s open design process, a NASA-inspired approach that jump-starts innovation by publicly releasing vehicle design concepts so any company can use them to innovate their air taxi models and engineering technologies.
“Our vision of Urban Air Mobility will transform the concept of urban transportation,” said Jaiwon Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai’s Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Division. “We expect UAM to vitalize urban communities and provide more quality time to people. We are confident that Uber Elevate is the right partner to make this innovative product readily available to as many customers as possible.”
Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate, said Hyundai was their first vehicle partner with experience of manufacturing passenger cars on a global scale. “We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip. Combining Hyundai’s manufacturing muscle with Uber’s technology platform represents a giant leap for launching a vibrant air taxi network in the coming years.”
In preparation for this announcement, Hyundai has worked with Uber Elevate to develop a PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) model, S-A1, that uses innovative design processes to optimize electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for aerial ridesharing purposes.
The Elevate initiative based this process on NASA’s historical approach of putting design concepts out publicly to inspire innovation amongst multiple companies, spurring the development of common research models to investigate novel aerodynamic concepts and catalysing industry progress in wing design, noise, aerodynamics, and simulation verification.
As a result, Hyundai’s S-A1 model unveiled at CES reflects previous eVTOL designs Uber Elevate has released in the following ways:
Ushering in the era of seamless mobility, Hyundai’s exploration of future urban transportation incorporates the electric PAV concept with a new ground transportation, the Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) concept.
Hyundai’s vision for creating communities from future transit systems comes into focus with yet another new infrastructure concept, called the Hub. When many PBVs and PAVs are docked and connected to a Hub, they make a new public space where diverse groups of people can come together.