Hot off the press - August 10th, 2011
It is predicted that South Africa will run out of water for future economic growth within the next five years if urgent steps are not taken.
Companies should conserve water
“Clearly, companies face serious challenges in both curtailing their environmental footprints and adapting to a fast-changing operating context. But how seriously is this threat to the environment taken?"
“Are companies engaging with the practicalities of greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation? Is the growing problem of water scarcity on the corporate radar? What are companies doing to reduce their environmental impacts?”
WHY GO WITH A WATERLESS CAR WASH?
Washing one’s car in the driveway is considered to be bad for the environment. Household waste water which enters sewers or septic systems undergoes treatment before being discharged into the environment. The water that runs off from your car enters drains which feed directly into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it may poison aquatic life and wreak havoc with various eco systems.
HOW MUCH WATER A REGULAR CAR WASH USES
- A standard 16mm hose running at 50 psi uses 45 litres of water per minute.
- The average car washer, one who takes extreme care not to waste water, takes 5-6 minutes to wash and rinse a car with a total consumption of 225-270 litres.
- If the water runs while the car is being washed, this number can jump to a staggering 675-900 litre.
- High pressure washing uses 18-38 litres of water per minute. Pre wash takes on average 3 minutes, wash takes 5 minutes and final rinse takes 4 minutes. This equates to 200-420 litres of water per car wash.
The Imperial Select waterless Eco Wash car wash solution
Eco Wash is a new, eco friendly concept in car washing that Imperial Select has introduced to their car dealerships. It combines state-of-the-art car washing and waxing methods by using biodegradable cleansing formulas, micro fibre reusable cleaning cloths, virtually no water and no harmful waste. But yet it provides quality, service and convenience.
Eco Wash has introduced a mobile waterless car wash system whereby a vehicle is washed using 300ml of biodegradable product and a litre of water. The unit comes fitted with a vacuum cleaner and all consumable products that enable a car to be cleaned in a shorter time than for a conventional wash.
Eco Wash’s mission is to provide equipment and products that clean, protect and extend the life of automotive surfaces while protecting the consumer and the environment.
How Eco Wash works
A solution is used that contains a mixture of ingredients including wetting agents, lubricants, surfactants and protectants. The surfactants enable the wetting agents to bind with dirt particles, leading to emulsification (the dirt is dispersed into the liquid).
After the product is sprayed on, it is wiped off with a clean micro-fibre towel. After the wipe-down, some wax may remain on the surface and a second towel is then used to polish the car by buffing the agents that remain behind. The products contain a little carnauba wax which is left on the surface and provides a glaze.
One person is able to operate the unit with an average time of 20 minutes per vehicle. Since the Eco Mobile Dispensing Units (MDUs) are fully autonomous, the system will not leave foam, water or dirt on the floor. It can be used in any indoor or outdoor parking facility.
Eco Wash provides all the necessary elements to ensure premium exterior hand car washes. The system does not have to be connected to any water or electricity supplies, it is totally self sufficient and is able to work all day without being refilled.
Waterless car wash is only a couple of years old, but its innovative and environmentally-friendly water saving technique is predicted to be the future of the Car Wash industry.
Hot off the press - July 21st, 2011
The Chery Tiggo SUV is proving the most popular model in the Chery range with customers in export markets. The sales rate continues to rise and recently the 100 000th Tiggo was exported. Sales in the Chinese domestic market have reached 200 000 units, lifting the overall Tiggo volume since launch to more than 300 000 units.
Chery is the leading exporter of built-up vehicles from China and now sells its products in more than 60 countries in the world.
The Tiggo is particularly popular in countries with rough road conditions. It is the top-selling SUV in Egypt, with a 40% share of this segment and is also popular in South America, receiving the Best SUV Award in Brazil and selling well in Argentina. It won the SUV Oscar award at the Belgrade Motor Show.
Tiggo is the first Chinese car to have received the European Union’s Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA), which includes 50 verifications of compliance, before this model was introduced to the Italian market.
At the same time it became the first Chinese passenger vehicle to enjoy exemption from an export check by that country’s State Administration of Quality Inspection. Exemption is only granted to products that score 100% in a random quality check for three years in succession. This exemption validated Chery’s own product quality controls and is the highest accolade for a Chinese exporter.
The success of the Chery Tiggo in overseas markets is attributed mainly to its high quality standards and affordability, while its award winning ACTECO engine is renowned for its high torque (pulling power) and fuel economy.
Meanwhile here in South Africa the two-wheel drive Chery Tiggo recently conquered the icy Sani Pass, the rugged mountain pass that is the only link between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. This is usually the environment for four-wheel drive vehicles so one can imagine how surprised the locals were to see a convoy of three Tiggo SUVs arrive at the summit, just before the Lesotho border post and 2 874 metres above sea level.
The trio of vehicles were all powered by the 2-litre engine and there were both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic derivatives.
“The Sani Pass proved a tough challenge for the Tiggo with only front wheel drive but all three of these tough SUVs made it to the summit,” said the managing director of Amalgamated Automobile Distributors (AAD), the importers of Chery vehicles into South Africa, Brett Soso.
“This is the second ambitious project we have tackled with the aim of showcasing the performance of Chery vehicles with the first having been a 48-hour endurance record run. On that occasion, in September 2008, a string of entry-level Chery QQ3 cars, with 800cc and 1-litre engines, set numerous speed and endurance records on the high-speed oval at the Gerotek test facility, west of Pretoria.
“This latest venture, climbing Sani Pass with front wheel drive Tiggos, further strengthens our belief that Chery is an ideal vehicle range for a country like South Africa,” added Soso.
Issued by Wilken Communication Management
Tel: 012-4604448
Fax: 012-4604514
On behalf of Amalgamated Automobile Distributors
Hot off the press - June 24th, 2011
New benchmark time for production-specification front-wheel drive car at the Nürburgring’s infamous Nordschleife
- Renault Sport established its first lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the Nordschleife on June 23, 2008. The time of 8m17s posted that day by Megane R26.
- On 17 June 2011, it was the turn of Megane RS Trophy – a new limited edition version of Megane RS. The Megane RS Trophy beat the time by 9 seconds (8m07s).
- The Trophy’s time is especially impressive as it beats the times of some rather impressive German engineering, including Audi’s TT-RS (8min09) and BMW’s new 1M (8min15).
Click on the link below to view the Megane RS Trophy lap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKyfmUJUzK8&feature=player_embedded#at=406
To view all Nürburgring lap times click on the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring_lap_times
Hot off the press - June 15th, 2011
Renault have revised their well-priced Sandero model range. Along with a renewed emphasis on the extremely competitively priced 1.4litre derivative, the revised range adopts the now standard and familiar Renault nomenclature.
Hot off the press - June 15th, 2011
Renault South Africa is continuing its drive to offer affordable, value-driven motoring with the release of a revitalised Sandero range. The new MY 2011 Sandero line-up focuses on a simplified and carefully targeted model range directly at the entry hatchback segment – a sector that has
seen unprecedented growth in recent years.
Hot off the press - June 12th, 2011
This locally-produced spacious hatch has been around for a couple of years already, but Renault has
decided to step it up another notch – and we’re not talking about the Stepway – that model continues.
Hot off the press - December 7th, 2010
Renault Centurion - recently under new management, is part of the successful AMH group (which is part of the Imperial Group) and is situated on the corner of Oak Avenua and John Vorster Drive, Highveld, Centurion.
Article: Renault Centurion - Dozi.jpg
Hot off the press - November 29th, 2010
When a Kia drives past be sure to take a close look at the driver. It may just be the beautiful Mrs SA 2010, Laurette Batstone, on her way to one of her many public appearances in an equally beautiful Kia.
Upon supporting Mrs Batstone as a finalist for Mrs South Africa earlier this year, dealer principal of Nelspruit Multifranchise, Christopher Gouws said he saw a great opportunity for an innovative brand alliance for the year of her reign.
Hot off the press - October 15th, 2010
Our dynamic, New, hot, streamlined, compact and web-efficient site www.imperialselect.co.za was launched on 15th October 2010.
To celebrate our new website launch we are running a hot competition where you stand a chance to Win an Apple iPad. Also download Imperial Select Widget, our new desktop application. This exciting feature gives you customised access to the latest car news, new and used car deals, world news, sports updates and entertainment news – so spring into summer and Enter our sizzling online competition.
On our speedy new site you will find an easy search function that takes you through our database of thousands of new, used and demo cars. Our ‘Your One Stop Shop’ is a perfect pitstop for online car buying with comprehensive services available to make your car purchase experience immensely pleasurable and easy. We have set up Facebook and Twitter groups, please do join and you will be in line for accessory giveaways and car discounts.
There is a car InfoHub for piping hot car reviews, car buying tips, finance and insurance advice and other scintillating car info. You can also join our newsletter NewsHub to receive all this car info directly into your mailbox.
Watch this space, we’re not done, there’ll be regular new additions to our dynamic new site!
please be patient
