Volvo to contend for Year title
The Volvo S90 has been announced as a finalist in the fight for the 2018 WesBank South African Car of the Year (COTY) title. Building on the strong foundation laid by the new-generation Volvo XC90, which was launched in South Africa in 2015 and won the local COTY crown in 2016, the S90 introduced the latest and greatest of Swedish luxury, safety, design and technology to the large sedan segment in South Africa, early this year.
A high level of standard equipment in all derivatives, which includes full-LED smart headlights, semi-autonomous driving technology, automatic climate control, digital instrumentation and a tablet-like touch screen interface and satellite navigation, are some of the S90’s many compelling attributes.
Safety is of course also a major highlight, with the S90 having been named as one of the three safest vehicles ever tested by Euro NCAP. Incidentally, the other two are the Volvo V90 and Volvo XC90.
The finalists in the 2018 edition of the prestigious automotive competition will undergo a rigorous real-world testing programme early next year, with the winner expected to be announce in March.
New Kuga arrives in SA
The new Kuga has arrived in South Africa, offering one of the most technologically-advanced, smart Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) with five-star safety and improved fuel efficiency. Ford is the second-largest SUV brand in the world and every model is backed by their global SUV expertise and robust 50-year heritage in the segment.
“We are thrilled with the new Kuga offering,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager for Ford in Southern Africa. “With stunning new design inside and out, smart technologies, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and five-star safety, it’s a vehicle that will stand out for our customers.”
Buyers have a choice of two petrol engines in the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol units, as well as the 2.0-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine. Depending on model, there is the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive models, and manual or automatic transmissions to suit customer needs.
As before, three specification levels are available, starting off with the value-oriented Ambiente, the mid-level Trend and the range-topping Titanium.
Ford has drawn on more than 22,000 comments and insights gained from research clinics and surveys to ensure the new version is the most customer-centric system to date.
VW employee programme lauded
At the recent Beyond Painting Classrooms Conference held in Johannesburg, Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) employee volunteer programme, “Show of Hands” won the Beyond Painting Classroom Award – Partnering for Change category.
The Beyond Painting Classroom Employee Volunteer Programme Awards recognise and celebrate inspiring examples of employee volunteering initiatives that go beyond traditional approaches to employee volunteering. These are aimed at giving real value to business, volunteers and communities. By showcasing inspiring examples of employee volunteering, Beyond Painting Classrooms aims to inspire more organisations and South Africans to get involved in employee volunteering, and to contribute to creating lasting social change.
The main criteria for this award is to recognise employee volunteer programmes and initiatives which prioritise and successfully execute a partnering approach to employee volunteering. Volkswagen was selected among 24 entries nationally. The winner in the same category for Non-profit organisations was Symphonia’s Partners for Possibility Programme.
