In a sport that is rough, tough and almost always pumped with testosterone, it’s takes a very special person to keep the team together and motivated to be the best rugby players, and team, that they can. Typically dominated by men, it’s rare that one finds a lady, a diamond in the rough, who is able to command the respect and nurture the dedication that the sport so rightly deserves. Thandazwa Qagana, a Queenstown (Eastern Cape) born sports coach, is one such diamond who is sinking her heels in deep with the Golden Lions and Fury Motor Group Rugby programme.
Qagana, now a Johannesburg local, is involved extensively with her school, Encochoyini Primary in Thokoza, coaching netball, athletics, soccer, baseball and TAG rugby. Her dedication and hard work earned her the honour and prestige of managing the U13 Girls Baseball team that partook in the 2008 Summer Games. With a keen enthusiasm for sports and a passion to encourage and motivate our young people, Qagana has stood above her expectations and followed her dreams.
She has become a valued member of our team of amazing leaders and coaches and we are looking forward to providing her with opportunities to grow as a manager.
RUGBY RAFFLE WINNER MARCH 2012
As part of the ongoing Corporate Social Investment initiatives of the Fury Motor Group, our raffle ticket project has raised close on R1,5m for schools, clubs and local organisations over the past five years. We hold an annual draw for which the prize is a brand new car, but we also have monthly draws that benefit the ticket purchasers and keep the interest up for those participating organisations that are selling tickets all through the year.
We are proud to announce our March winner: Ms Weideman! She bought her lucky winning ticket from her grandson, Jason Zeiss, a learner at Laerskool Orion. This primary school is one of a list of 43 high schools, primary schools, clubs and a view Golden Lions Presidential XV teams, that receive sponsored kit and training equipment every year, from the Fury Motor Group and Golden Lions Rugby Union Rugby Programme.
Warren Foyn takes the lead at Sandton Ford & Mazda
One can always recognise a true leader when looking at their activities outside of the office. Warren Foyn is one such leader; an achiever of excellence with an appreciation for team spirit and dedication. This year Foyn had the honour of qualifying to race at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships to be held at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, in September. As far as sporting events, this one ranks amongst the elite and most demanding. A little under 2000 competitors are chosen from a pool of over 60 000 that have taken part in 70.3 Series events during the previous year, held in nearly 50 countries worldwide.
Last year Foyn competed in many events of which the Ironman 70.3, Ironman South Africa, the Comrades Marathon, the 94.7 cycle challenge, and the Coronation Double Century cycle race where some of his highlights. In the Coronation race he road with the Fury sponsored team, achieving 7th place overall.
MARQ ROBERTS GETS HANDED THE REIGNS
As the visionary and leader of the team of founders of the Fury Motor Group, Ken Cosgrove has left an inspiring trail of achievements, dealership buy-outs and many tales of how the group has grown from one business unit to 12 – and still continues to grow – 17 years on! As of April 1, 2012, Cosgrove has stepped aside as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Fury Motor Group and now holds the Chairman’s seat on the executive board. In his stead, Marq Roberts steps in and takes the reigns from his current position of Dealer Principal for both Fury Ford & Mazda Sandton and Fury Ford & Mazda Fourways.
Cosgrove founded the group in 1995 in partnership with Johan Erasmus, Piet Klopper and the International Summitomo Corporation of Japan, with the establishment of Fury Ford & Mazda Sandton as the group’s first dealership. (Erasmus has recently taken retirement and Klopper remains on as the Head of Parts Operations for the group). In 2005 the management team under the leadership of Cosgrove together with BEEE partner Batsomi Corporation acquired the controlling interest in the Group from Summitomo Corporation. By that stage the Fury Motor Group had grown to 7 dealerships including the acquisition of 3 General Motors dealerships from the IMD Group in 2002. Notwithstanding the significant vehicle market downturn, in the period 2008 through 2010, the Group continued to grow with the addition of a further Ford & Mazda Dealership as well as dealerships representing the Volkswagen, Honda and Suzuki Brands. Having set the pace, and a basis for further growth, Cosgrove can confidently entrust the leadership of the Fury family to Roberts.
In the early nineties, Roberts a Chartered Accountant by profession moved to Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth as the National Marketing Manager for the then Delta Motor Corporation (now known as General Motors SA). In 2001 with a career history in the vehicle and motor components manufacturing business’ Roberts moved to the motor retail sector and was appointed Dealer Principal at GM’s Sandton Dealership. Roberts became part of the Fury family two years later, when Cosgrove and the Fury Motor Group bought the IMD Retail Group of which Sandton was the flagship dealer. Proving a valuable asset to the Fury Motor Group, Roberts was moved across to Fury’s Ford and Mazda dealership in Sandton in 2004. Eight years on, and having managed three Fury dealerships (two at the same time for the last four years), Roberts now takes on his new role with the same passion, precision and confidence that he has always shown.
The group will still benefit from Cosgrove’s spirited enthusiasm and passion for the Fury brand, as he leads the board towards various strategic opportunities whilst Roberts will oversee the group’s trading operations as CEO. We are excited for the road ahead and wish both Ken and Marq the very best in their new positions and offer them our total support.
BUSA's TAKE ON THE TOLLS
Statement by Business Unity South Africa, on the Sanral e-toll system
GOLF VI CABRIOLET - NOW HERE!
A little over a month ago, our Northcliff VW dealership received one of the first Golf VI Cabriolets in the country. With its much anticipated arrival, the waiting list has seen to it that when the stock arrives, they already have enthusiatic owners waiting to drive them around JHB's vast highways and biways.
CAR, BIKE OR GAUTRAIN - WHICH IS CHEAPER?
With the fuel price hitting an all-time high yesterday, eNews ran a story that compared the different options for travel between Pretoria and Sandton. Granted, there are not many of us that will be traveling this route, but it was an interesting take on transport in Johannesburg.
An added cost looming on the horizon for Gauteng motorists is the implementation of the new eTolling, which may or may not actually happen. Either way, driving your car in and around Johannesburg is becoming significantly more expensive.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES - NEW CARS!
The Fury Motor Group have had a fantastic year so far with two of our dealerships launching blogs and a newsletter – check out Fury Northcliff VW and Fury Toyota Darrenwood! We have also seen a fantastic growth in the interaction and following on our Fury Motor Group Facebook Page that was launched towards the end of 2011 – thank you for your support. All of these initiatives have helped us improve and sustain our communication with our clients and customers.
CHEV TRAILBLAZER | ALL NEW SUV
In other news, Whitney Houston has been honoured as a ‘trailblazer’ and a ‘world-class entertainer’ (Voice of America) and General Motors South Africa announced the launch of their own brand-spanking-new Chev Trailblazer. Our Fury Motor Group GM dealerships are expecting the Trailblazer towards the end of the third quarter of 2012 – so we’ll keep you up to date!
CHEVROLET'S RECORD SALES FIGURES
One of the highlights of the Fury Motor Group’s 2011 calendar was Chevrolet’s centenary celebrations. Chev’s 100th birthday was marked with a global annual sales record with 4.8-million units delivered through to the end of last November.
The bow-tie brand's global market share, according to its marketing manager for mid-sized and performance cars Russ Clark, has grown by nearly 0.5% through 2011.
NINE CHEV'S SOLD EVERY MINUTE
About 60% of Chevy’s are now sold outside the US, the primary market for parent, General Motors, for most of the past century. This year also saw the exciting entry of Chevrolet into South Korea and Vietnam.
"A Chevrolet is sold somewhere in the world every 6.6 seconds," Clark added, thanks to China, Russia, Uzbekistan and India now being among its markets. Latin America is responsible for 20% of Chev’s global sales, holding a local market share of 18,7%.
Despite GM's push to make Chevrolet a truly global brand alongside Ford, Toyota and VW it is still No.2 in the US with 13.7% of the market. Ford is No.1 but Chevrolet is set to make December 2011 its 16th month of sales growth.
SERVICING YOUR VEHICLE: Holiday checklist
As the all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer revs up for the streets of South Africa in 2012, the market-dominating Fortuner can look forward to some worthy competition. The Trailblazer was launched at this month’s Dubai International Motor Show and is looking to rock even the paths of the noble Jeep Cherokee. At Fury Motor Group – we want our customers to catch the first glimpse now!
Third Generation Chevrolet Utility
Fury Motor Group was proud to support General Motors South Africa as they took the opportunity presented by the Johannesburg International Motor Show to preview the third generation Chevrolet Utility prior to its public launch towards the end of 2011.
Six years and still running strong - FMG's Rugby Development Programme
For six years, running as the forwards, The Fury Motor Group (FMG), in association with the Golden Lions Rugby Development and our associated sponsors, ITEC Central, Castrol and Rex Diff & Gearbox, has built into the lives of our future generation. This year, reaching out to a significant 40 schools and development clubs, FMG’s annual Lions Rugby Development Programme is part of their unremitting commitment to see change and growth in the local communities and in rugby development.
However, it’s not only the youngsters that are winners with FMG – Brett Misselbrook, the fortuitous raffle-ticket purchaser from Fourways High School, was handed the keys to his brand new Chevrolet Spark. Misselbrook’s contribution was just one of hundreds, from the proceeds of the raffle, which has enabled the school to invest in much-needed resources for the upcoming year.
NEW FORD KUGA TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT
With a relationship that began in the early 90’s, The Fury Motor Group and Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa are proud to announce the launch of the new Ford Kuga. From the early days of Fury Ford Sandton, on Witkoppen Road, both companies have grown and established themselves in the ever-changing social, political and economic South African landscape.
Cars that will drive the future
“The Toyota Prius has become the iPod of hybrid vehicles.”
Susan Carpenter – LA Times
Celebrating 100yrs of Chev - Back to the 60's
FORD SA ENGINE PLANT BECOMES WORLD PLAYER
, Lewis Booth (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Ford Motor Company) and Wallace Yearwood (Plant Manager, Struandale Engine Plant).jpg "Jeff Nemeth (President and CEO, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa), Lewis Booth (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Ford Motor Company) and Wallace Yearwood (Plant Manager, Struandale Engine Plant)")
Car of the year 2010 announced!
Volkswagen's Polo 1.6 TDI ties at top spot at revamped Car of the Year Competition. South Africa's most prestigious event, the WesBank / South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year competition was given a substantial update and refreshed for 2011.
FORD FIGO surging ahead
The Ford Figo is a key product for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa in the now growing new car market. Its crisp driving dynamics, fuel-efficient engine options, cheerful styling and interiors and, of course, its terrific pricing, have propelled it up the sales charts and won it critical acclaim in the local media.
Launched locally in July 2010 the Ford Figo caters to the increasingly important entry-level market that is bolstering growth in the South African car market. The so-called sub-B segment has increased exponentially year on year as South Africans continue to buy more affordable cars in the shadow of economic recession.
“The market is moving towards smaller more affordable hatchbacks that offer an appealing level of style and safety,” said Vice President Marketing, Sales and Service, Dean Stoneley
In light of its impressive success the South African motoring media have named the Figo a finalist in the South African Car of the Year competition with the final evaluation set to take place mid-February.
“It is an impressive testament to the weight this segment commands in the new car market,” continues Stoneley.
Figo enjoyed a successful debut in South Africa, capitalising on the extensive demand in its segment. The car promptly entered SA’s Top 10 performing passenger cars in its launch month, completing only two weeks of sales during July 2010. It firmly established itself as the 8th best selling passenger car in the second half 2010, with the Figo finding 4380 new owners in 2010.
Produced in India, Ford Motor Company invested $500 million in the Chennai plant which produces 200,000 Ford Figo units per year. Through this investment Ford was able to ensure major advances in high-quality automation and innovative as well as eco-friendly production techniques.
“Ford Motor Company has demonstrated its commitment to emerging markets through its sizeable investment in the production of the Ford Figo, a product intended specifically for these markets,” says Stoneley.
In India the small car segment accounts for more than 70 percent of the new vehicle market, while in South Africa this segment is demonstrating sizeable growth. The Figo has a solid foundation and utilises Ford’s small-car platform architecture, sharing underlying technology with the Ford Fiesta.
“Though the Figo is based on the tried-and-tested platform of the previous generation Fiesta it is a more sophisticated product making use of newer more advanced technologies and resources,” says Stoneley.
Sharing key elements of Ford’s kinetic design language with vehicles like the globally renowned Ford Focus and the Ford Fiesta, Ford Figo features a fresh, contemporary shape that is a distinctive alternative to traditional brands in this segment. The design language conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in motion.
Quality, substance and generous proportions are clearly evident in the design of the Ford Figo, which features a solid stance, an invitingly large interior and a vibrant, youthful character.
Created with a “best of the best” approach, the Chennai plant has been benchmarked against other competitive facilities globally. With greater automation and new high-tech facilities, the new Figo is built using the latest Ford manufacturing processes globally and pioneers new technologies for both Ford and the region.
The transformed plant introduces eco-friendly production techniques like its new Three-Wet High-Solids paint process. This approach produces beautifully painted vehicles with three wet coats – primer, base coat and clear coat – of high solids-content paint applied one after the other without oven curing between coats. It produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions and reduces volatile organic compounds emissions by about 20 percent compared to current medium-solids solvent-borne paints. Use of high-solids content results in a paint finish with high levels of gloss and depth of colour which is more resistant to scratches and stone chips.
In light of these advances, the Figo has already been named the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011 by a jury panel of leading automotive magazine editors and has gone on to win more awards than any other nameplate in the history of the Indian automotive industry.
“The Figo is proving its metal through its popularity,” says Stoneley. “Consumers are demonstrating their faith in the vehicle by committing their own money rather than corporate driven sales, over 91% of Figos sold to date were retailed through the dealer network. And that is a mark of Ford’s continuing growth and success.”
The South African Car of the Year winner will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on 08 March 2011.
Sporty New OPEL ASTRA to join GMSA's Opel line-up in 2011.
General Motors South Africa (GMSA) has announced that it will be introducing the new Opel Astra to South Africa in the first quarter of 2011. GMSA says the decision by parent company General Motors to retain the Opel brand and improved business conditions in general have opened up new opportunities in South Africa for the Opel brand.
FORD FIGO wins 2011 Indian Car of the Year award!
The phenomenal Ford Figo was selected as Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011 today, earning the country's top automotive award in the fiercely competitive and rapidly growing Indian market. Now in its sixth year, the ICOTY is awarded to a new vehicle after comprehensive testing by a jury of leading automobile journalists in India.
Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India, accepted the award from Dr. R.P. Singhania, vice chairman and managing director, JK Tyre & Industries, at a ceremony in Mumbai today.
“The Indian Car of the Year award caps off a terrific year for the phenomenal Figo,” said Boneham. “Recognition from some of India's most respected and influential automotive reporters further reinforces Figo's reputation as a well-designed, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicle that delivered exceptional value-for-money for thousands of new car buyers across India. On behalf of all the dedicated men and women at Ford India, we are extremely grateful to the jury members and to our customers for choosing the Figo.”
The winner is determined by a multi-point voting system modeled on the selection process used by the European Car of the Year jury.
The 11-person 2011 ICOTY jury included: Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh (Auto Bild); Gautam Sen and Bob Rupani (Auto India); Girish Karkera and Sriram Narayanan (BBC TopGear); Srinivas Krishnan and Pablo Chaterji (Business Standard Motoring); Aspi Bhathena (Car India); and Sirish Chandran and Bertrand D'Souza (Overdrive).
“We knew Ford had a potential winner on its hands even as we lined up the contenders. The Figo's crisp driving dynamics, two fuel-efficient engine options, cheerful styling and interiors and, of course, its terrific pricing, simply propelled it to the top of the honours list. It's only appropriate that the Figo has won the Indian Car of the Year 2011 award, because Ford engineered the car specifically to cater to the needs of the Indian market,” said Srinivas Krishnan, editor, Business Standard Motoring and Chairman, ICOTY 2011.
The prestigious ICOTY award is the latest of many accolades the Figo has received since its introduction 10 months ago. More than 60,000 Figos have been sold since March, setting a new sales record for a single nameplate in India. Figo has become one of India's best selling vehicles consolidating Ford's position in the Indian automotive sector. From January to November 2010, Ford India sold 79,586 units across its lineup, an increase of 185 percent compared to the same period last year.
The Figo is being exported to South Africa, and is a finalist for the South African Car of the Year award, which will be announced in early 2011. The Figo is also exported to Nepal and in 2011 an additional 48 international markets will start selling the popular small car.
New Chev Spark is Proudly South African
South African IDOL Elvis wins brand New Ford Figo!
Welcome to Movember South Africa, 2010,
Movember (the month formerly known as November), the month long moustache growing charity event held each year to help raise funds and awareness for men's health is officially in South Africa.
Having started in Australia seven years ago, Movember has grown to be an international event, taking place in six countries. This global expansion looks set to continue with demand from Mo Bros and Sistas around the world wanting to grow moustaches and celebrate Movember in their own countries. As a direct result, six new countries have been added to this year's campaign, of which South Africa is one.
Movember is about bringing back the moustache for a serious cause and sees Mo Bros, supported by the Mo Sistas in their life, register at Movember .com and then start Movember 1st with a clean-shaven face. They have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache, whilst raising funds and awareness.
South African Mo Bros and Sistas can join their 250 000 registered Global counterparts by donating their faces and growing their Mo's in aid of the Cancer Association of South Africa ( CANSA )and their message of detecting Men's Cancers early.
The 2009 Movember campaign enjoyed over R 240 000 raised and over 1 500 registred South African Mo Bros & Sistas - all funds were allocated to CANSA's Men's Health Programs, which includes CANSA Interim homes ( Hope Lodges ) Awareness and Early detection programs.
New Opel Astra set for early arrival!
Exciting product news from General Motors South Africa is that the all New Opel Astra is set for an earlier than expected arrival in South Africa. Initially scheduled for launch in the early part of 2011, the new Astra is now expected at local dealers within the next few days!
A clean sheet design from Opel enigineers the new Astra has a sporty, coupe-like, profile with full five-door functionality and seating for five adults. The all new design incorporates a host of safety features, some a first class for this "C" segment competitor. The stylish interior is complemented by up-to-the-minute interior treatments with exceptional ergonomics and occupant comfort.
Initially GMSA is expceted to offer a choice of the latest 1.4 and 1.6 litre ECOTEC engines matched to either a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission. These latest technology powerplants from Opel are both leaner and greener than their predecessorsand offer an excellent balance between performance and economy.
New Chev Aveo to bring 'Hot-Hatch' Style to Small Car Segment
First Drive: The New Stylish Chevrolet Spark
First Drive: Fords' Funky New Figo
It's becoming somewhat of a motoring industry cliché: introduce a new compact hatchback, but here's the trick, don't get rid of the old one - instead re-engineer it to a slightly lower spec level, freshen it up with a nip/tuck and price it well below its successor. Volkswagen have done it successfully with the Polo Vivo, Chevrolet have recently done it with their Spark Lite and now Ford have followed with the new Figo.
Supercharged Prado really cruises
If you own a new Prado V6 and are perpetually in a hurry (or tow a three-axle caravan) perhaps a Vortech supercharger is in order.
Opel Corsa Receives A More Powerful Engine
Opel's popular B-segment hatch, the Corsa 1.4 Enjoy, Essentia and Sport are now available in South Africa with an upgraded engine.
