Ignition Magazine New Zealand | March 2024

MARCH 2024

Classic/Member Ride:

VW TRANSPORTER

THE CONFIDENCE BOOST EVERY APPRENTICE NEEDS

An interview with first-ever Rising Stars Winner, Mark Smith.

CHATBOTS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The next generation of customer service technology.

CALENDAR of events NZ Golf Day

Palmerston North Tradeshow

Wairakei International Golf Course 15 March 2024

Palmerston North Convention Centre 20 March 2024

Petone Tradeshow Petone Rugby Club 19 March 2024

Capricorn Convention 2024 Hawaii 5-11 May 2024

Napier Tradeshow Taradale Rugby Club 21 March 2024

STAY TUNED! Log in to myCAP to check out all the upcoming events or for further information please contact our Events team.

cap.coop/events

0800 401 444

ezi-parts

events@capricorn.coop

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CAP ezi-parts PROMOTION Congratulations to the following winners of our CAP ezi-parts 50,000 Bonus Rewards Points Monthly Draw OctoberDecember 2023 Promotion.

October: CLIVE AUTOS November: AUTOKING December: AUTO ELECTRIC CITY BLENHEIM

Thank you very much to all Members who participated in our latest promotion.

CONTENTS CONTENTS FEBRUARY MARCH 2024 2023

David Fraser Group CEO

CEO’s message

How open are you to change? How willing are you to embrace new technologies and new ways of doing things? We like to think that, as automotive business owners, we’re great at adapting to change. After all, carmakers are inventing new tech for us to get our heads around all the time.

But we’re about to find out how true this tale we tell ourselves really is—because we’re now living in a period of incredible and rapid change and it’s going to fundamentally change our industry.

Fortunes are going to be made. New people are going to rise to the surface to lead us. In twenty years’ time, as vehicles become increasingly connected, autonomous, shared and electric, our businesses may look very different. That’s why this month’s Ignition focuses on the next generation—because it’s vital we’re always looking forward.

It’s one reason Capricorn has invested in Shift4Good, a global impact venture capital fund that aims to decarbonise the transport sector for goods and people.

It’s backed by institutional financial investors and major industry players, with the goal of identifying and supporting the auto industry’s best emerging entrepreneurs with in-depth sector knowledge and financing. Teaming up with Shift4Good is part of our strategy to scout for and empower ground-breaking mobility ventures. We know the world of mobility is changing, and in a world of rapid change we must keep an eye on the future and the opportunities that new technology and business models could present.

But there’s more to ensuring the longevity of our businesses and our industry than just the technology. Of equal importance are the people who will work in our industry and lead it. We must encourage, grow and support the pipeline of talent— our next generation of technicians, business owners and entrepreneurs. Vital to this (and, yes, I’m banging a drum that I’ve used many times before) is bringing on more apprentices. Two in five Members told State of the Nation Special Report: The Skills Shortage they were very or extremely likely to take on an apprentice in the future—a figure that’s up five percentage points on 2022 and nine on 2021.

It’s wonderful to see the industry responding so positively to this fundamental need. Problematic, though, is the fact the data also shows 43% of Members lost an apprentice before the apprenticeship was finished. We don’t just need to attract the next generation of talent, we need to retain it as well.

One way we can do that is to support and encourage the talent we already have by nominating our top-performing apprentices for the 2024 Capricorn Rising Stars.

Past winners have been truly inspiring people with great futures in our industry.

Even if you’ve nominated your apprentice before, please nominate them again this year at cap.coop/stars. Last year’s winner, Chelsea Bowers, had been a finalist the previous year, so persistence pays off!

5 CAPRICORN

DIRECTOR ELECTION How you can join our Board of Directors.

6 DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION

Ensuring the future of the auto industry workforce.

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THE CONFIDENCE BOOST EVERY APPRENTICE NEEDS An interview with first-ever Rising Stars Winner, Mark Smith.

12 CLASSIC/MEMBER

RIDE: VW TRANSPORTER

Darrel’s dream—from bland van to iconic head-turner.

17 CHATBOTS AND

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The next generation of customer service technology.

21 EXPERT GUIDE TO

THE F1 AUSTRALIAN GP Everything you need to know about the 2024 race in Melbourne.

24 2023 CUPRA

FORMENTOR VZ TRIBE EDITION

Still standing out as a great value package.

30 INCREASED ADAS REPAIR COSTS

Are your customers ready to pay more?

The future is full of opportunity—for our apprentices, our businesses, our industry.

It’s exciting. Let’s embrace it.

David Fraser Group CEO

All information, material and content in this edition of Ignition is provided or sourced by Capricorn Society Limited (“Capricorn”) for general information only and is not intended to be advice or comment on any particular matter or subject. Before acting on any information in this edition of Ignition you should consider the relevance of it to your own circumstances and, if necessary, take professional advice. Any opinions expressed in an Ignition article are those of the relevant individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Capricorn. Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material (including without limitation, any third party authored article or supplier advertisement in respect of which Capricorn merely acts as conduit) included in this edition of Ignition. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Capricorn, its officers, employees, agents and representatives disclaim any and all liability to you or any other person for any loss or damage whatsoever connected with: i. reliance on any material in Ignition; or ii. any inaccuracy, error or omission in any material in Ignition. If you’d like to stop receiving a printed copy of Ignition, you can opt-out at any time by logging into myCAP and updating your Account settings and Communication Preferences.

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024 3

to paper statements for your chance to win 25,000 Bonus Rewards Points

Now’s the time to go paperless … by opting out of receiving a paper statement each month.

You’ll still receive an email when your statement is ready to review online so you can stay on top of managing your account.

Plus you’ll be helping Capricorn become more sustainable.

Opt out by 31 May 2024 and you will automatically go in the draw to win one of four prizes of 25,000 Bonus Rewards Points.*

Log in to myCAP to make the change before 31 May 2024

*Terms and Conditions apply see full details at cap.coop/tc Participation in the Capricorn Rewards scheme is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions which can be found at cap.coop/tc

Make a difference to the Capricorn community

Q&A SESSION WITH Mark Cooper, VIC/TAS Director (Chair)

Join the Capricorn Board of Directors Capricorn Member Directors play an important role on our Board of Directors.

They use their skills, knowledge and expertise in the industry to help ensure Capricorn is delivering for Members, reflecting their interests and living up to Capricorn’s promises and values.

Interested in learning more about what’s involved as a Capricorn Member Director or thinking about nominating in the next few years? Members across Australia and New Zealand are invited to join us at the following free, online events exclusively for Capricorn Members.

Q&A Session - 14 March 2024 Join current Board Member Directors Mark Cooper (VIC/TAS) and Mark Rowe (QLD) at a free Question-and-Answer Session (Q&A Session) to learn what it’s like to be a Member Director. They will discuss their journey to join the Board, what they’ve learnt and maybe even a story or two about what happens behind closed doors.

Mark Rowe, QLD Director

Mini-Governance Course - 18 April 2024 This free 3-hour course is hosted by one of the most experienced governance trainers in the business and will explain more about what is required to be a director and what’s involved in being on the Board.

Visit cap.coop/elections to learn more and register for these events

2024 Director Election This year Members from South Australia and the Northern Territory are invited to nominate themselves for our Board of Directors. More information will be provided to eligible Members in April.

Shares are issued by Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313). No offer of shares is made in this publication. An offer of shares will only be made in, or accompanied by, Capricorn’s Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus which is available on request or may be viewed at capricorn.coop under “Corporate Documents.” Before making any decision to apply for shares you should consider the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus. Any application for shares must be made on the application form in or accompanying the Prospectus.

Register at cap.coop/elections

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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Developing the next generation of automotive apprentices

by Geoff Mutton

It’s common knowledge that the shortage of technicians is the number one issue facing the aftermarket automotive sector.

A

t the big end of town, industry associations and governments are working away at schemes to make the motor trade more appealing. While candidates may well be enticed into joining up, these good intentions will be discounted if many recruits quit before they become qualified.

The onus would seem to be on workshops to see what they can do to ensure their apprentices complete their apprenticeship and become qualified tradespeople. Only when apprentices become qualified do they see value in their qualification and the endless opportunities in front of them.

Don’t rush recruitment Unlike recruiting a qualified technician, hiring a brand new apprentice is more complex because the candidate may be uncertain or dubious about whether this is their right career path. It will be less disappointing for both parties if the recruitment process involves some work experience and a friendly discussion about the exciting opportunities in the auto trades of the future. A meeting with the candidate’s parents or partners can help. The more the business understands the family situation the better prepared it will be to help the candidate on their path to a qualification. So, don’t rush the recruitment of apprentices.

The offer of an apprenticeship should come only after the above steps are completed.

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Communicate your expectations upfront and make them feel welcome It’s likely that an apprenticeship will be the first full-time job for the recruit, so try to appreciate their stress and anxiety about this important first move in their working lives. Spend the first few days outlining the workshop’s expectations and making them feel part of the team. Welcome the new apprentice to the team by introducing them to all staff, and make sure they know who to turn to if they need help.

Understand that apprentices make mistakes There’s a lot going on in the life of a young apprentice, and starting a job is just one of a host of changes and challenges they face. So don’t expect their dedication to the job to be as intense as the owners or managers of the business. Mistakes are inevitable by those with a skill set that has yet to mature.

As costly and frustrating as this can be, losing your cool will only turn their initial enthusiasm into a hatred for work. This is not helping either of you, so it is far better to take a breath and walk away. Then deal with the situation in a calm and solution-focused way.

Challenge your apprentices with different work and invest in their skills I’ve yet to meet an apprentice whose career ambition was to wash cars.

If this is all you have planned for them,

I forecast the apprenticeship will be over within 18 months. It is acknowledged that washing cars may be included in their day, but finding some challenging work for them will retain their enthusiasm and stimulate their cognitive skills. Any loss of productivity in those early years will be far eclipsed by the long-term benefits for the business.

Think of apprenticeships like superannuation — the more invested today, the greater the financial rewards in the long run.

Monthly check-in The schooling side of apprenticeship training is all too often ignored by the business. Many otherwise promising young apprentices quit the trade when they fall behind in their schooling, for whatever reason.

The onus is on the business to take an interest in the schooling side of the apprenticeship. Sit down with the apprentice once a month to check on their progress. If learning difficulties seem evident, check in with their trade teachers so that any shortcomings can be quickly addressed.

Recognition and reward Young employees crave recognition for a job well done. Go out of your way to recognise their achievements and milestones. Implement an incentive or reward system to acknowledge exceptional performance. Celebrate their successes, whether it’s completing a training module or achieving a specific

skill level. You could also nominate them for this year's Capricorn's Rising Star Apprentice of the Year award (visit cap.coop/stars). Positive reinforcement enhances engagement and encourages continued growth.

Engage apprentices with technology Depending on your interest and prior digital experience, new technologies can be either daunting or exciting.

Many young apprentices, having grown up in this digital era, will undoubtedly find technology exciting. Use this excitement to your advantage. It will help the business and keep the apprentice engaged at the same time.

More than likely your new apprentice might be able to teach mature staff a thing or two. Today’s apprentices will not be daunted by such things as Bluetooth connectivity or programming new car keys or cloning that replacement electronic control unit. The younger generation can be of great value to a workshop facing advanced technologies in every vehicle on the floor. Use their skills and don’t forget to recognise and reward real achievements.

them of the potential opportunities that they can tap into the longer they remain in the industry.

Recent studies show that up to 60 percent of apprentices drop out in their first year and many of these might have been averted had the business gone out of its way to make a good first impression.

Apprenticeship Careers Australia has identified the key factors that influence apprentices leaving their employers: a bad relationship with the boss or co-workers, poor commitment to training, lack of a support network, lack of structured training, and availability of career paths.

Apprentices do take some extra effort.

There may be some setbacks and laughs along the way, but your business can take comfort in the knowledge that it is developing the next generation of highly skilled technicians.

Discuss their future with them The industry is heading into exciting times. Young techs will have endless opportunities in a wide variety of areas within the automotive space.

However, these opportunities won’t present themselves until apprentices become qualified.

Regularly encourage your apprentices to stick with it and don’t stop reminding

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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The CAPRICORN

RISING STARS AWARD is the confidence boost every apprentice needs

An interview with first-ever Rising Stars Winner, Mark Smith

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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ark, an auto-electrician with The Battery Terminal in Belconnen, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, was the

first-ever winner of the Capricorn Rising Stars Award, in 2018.

At the time, his prizes included an all-expenses-paid trip to the Gold Coast to watch the Supercars race and a customer service training package from The Workshop Whisperer for The Battery Terminal—his parents’ business. But the real prize was something far less tangible.

“I got a lot more respect from a lot of peers and from the businesses that we deal with,” Mark said. “But the main thing for me was just the confidence from knowing that everyone had respect for me at such a young age. It allowed me to learn off a lot of other people who wouldn’t normally talk to an apprentice from another workshop. Business owners of other mechanical shops were actually talking to me about electrical problems, rather than always going straight to Dad." “So, that’s one of the biggest things Rising Stars gave me—just the confidence. Now I’m sort of second in charge, and in charge when Dad’s not there, and it’s definitely given me the confidence to do that.”

It’s a boost Mark said every business owner can give their apprentice by nominating them for this year’s Capricorn Rising Stars Award. Nominations are now open for 2024 and Mark said he believed the simple act of nominating an apprentice could deliver the kind of confidence boost that winning the award gave to him.

“Don’t be shy to nominate your apprentice,” he said. “Even if they don’t think they will win it, the confidence it will give them is something that you can’t give them during the workday,” he said. “I don’t think you can say ‘good job’ or ‘great work’ enough to give an apprentice the confidence that this sort of thing can give some young people, especially ones that show initiative and are passionate about their job."

“Just nominate them, because that will mean the world to these young people coming through our industry. Nominate them, because it’s all worth it and it’ll be a massive confidence boost for them.”

That confidence might just be the kind of gold dust that both promising young apprentices, and our industry, need to help us retain talent.

In the State of the Nation Special Report: The

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Skills Shortage, 22% of Members told us finding a good apprentice was a challenge—up eight percentage points on the previous year.

Members identified problems with both attention and retention of talent. Six in 10 believed auto apprenticeships were less or a lot less attractive than apprenticeships in other industries. Sixty per cent of New Zealand and 57% of Australian Members told us they had lost an apprentice before the qualification had been completed.

Mark’s best advice to workshop owners wanting to attract and retain apprentices was to make the job as diverse as possible—and to show confidence in your apprentice’s abilities.

“We’re all going to have bad days and good days, but just break the day up,” he said.

“Make it interesting, rather than the same thing over and over again, because that’s obviously not what we’re all there to do."

“What I found was helpful for me was doing the different jobs. Dad used to just say, ‘Go and do it and figure it out.’ When you’ve got an apprentice, obviously you’re teaching them, so you’ve got to allow them to do the harder jobs. You can’t just let them do easy jobs and then give them a hard job once they’re qualified, because if they haven’t had that practice, then they’re not going to be ready to do it.”

Mark urged apprentices to “stick it out— especially if you love cars”.

“If it’s tough, just find something that makes your day better,” he said. “I could have 10 customers that I serve and if nine of them are awful, but I have one good one, then I go home happy. If you’ve had three bad jobs and then you get a simple service—a quick alternator or something—just find enjoyment in that. If you can’t do that then maybe it’s not for you, but for me it just makes it easier because it feels less like a job and more like a hobby."

“That’s what I always say. This feels like a hobby rather than a job and I’m just blessed that I get paid for it.”

Mark was nominated for the Capricorn Rising Stars by his parents, Capricorn Members Steve and Julie Smith, of The Battery Terminal. If you’d like to nominate your apprentice and give them the kind of confidence boost Mark talks about,

visit cap.coop/stars.

Proudly sponsored by:

Nominate your apprentice at cap.coop/stars * 2024 Capricorn Rising Starts Terms and Conditions apply, visit cap.coop/tc

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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TRANSP

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CLASSIC/ MEMBERRIDE:

PORTER DARREL’S DREAM FROM BLAND VAN TO ICONIC HEAD-TURNER In the great pantheon of iconic Volkswagen creations, is there a place for today ’s humble Transporter?

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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TRANSPORTER

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e mean the late model Transporters. Not the classics. Not the Kombi—the much-loved head-turner that delights adults and children alike wherever it goes, with its characterful front end and the charming putt-putt-putt of its engine.

We’re referring to the functional, uninspiring workhorse that it eventually evolved into. From the T3 of 1979 onwards.

The “bread loaf on wheels” Transporters.

Until very recently, we’d have suggested that for all the benefits of the Transporter— the reputation for quality and reliability, the versatility, the driver comfort, the fuel efficiency—no-one had ever bought one just because they loved the Transporter.

Turns out, we were wrong.

Meet Capricorn Member Darrel Sutton, director of UK Autocare in Wangara, Western Australia. Originally from the UK, Darrel specialises in the service and repair of European vehicles. But his particular passion is Volkswagens.

“I’ve always had an interest in Volkswagens, even when I had my workshop in the UK—the Volkswagen scene in the UK is massive,” he said. “I’d done a few conversions over there and I’ve done a couple of camper conversions over here, too. It’s a personal passion, not a work passion.”

In 2022, Darrel took himself off to an auto auction. He was in the market for a Range Rover. Somehow, he managed to come home with a 2018 T6 VW Transporter.

“It started life as one of those shopping trolley collectors from Coles,” Darrel said.

“It had one of those big, red backs on it.

It looked so ugly. I thought, ‘I can make something nice out of that. I want to make something really stunning that stands out’.

Then I thought, ‘you know something; I’ll give it a crack!” $11,000 later, Darrel was the proud of owner of perhaps the ugliest vehicle on Western Australian roads—one that would have struggled to have turned any heads unless it had run into the back of the vehicle in front of it. Things wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“I removed the Coles trolley carrier and it just became a cab chassis, then we fabricated the tray for it,” Darrel said. “The lower part of the tray is curved around—that’s all handcrafted by a local trader. I got it all bolted together and everything and then we put composite decking on the middle of the back, to complement the grey and black of the new paint. Obviously, I gave it a full respray in Tornado Grey.”

Darrel had a black rear roll bar handmade for the front of the bed, too, and added a smart-looking aluminium VW logo, which lights up at night-time.

The whole custom fit-out took about 10 months and $20,000. Darrel didn’t touch the two-litre turbo under the hood, but has plans to switch it out for an electric motor in the next couple of years.

“We’re just waiting for the correct motoring configuration for it, then I’ll take it off the road for another 12 months and we’ll work our way through that job,” he said.

Which all rather begs the question, why?

Why spend all that time, money and care on such an ugly duckling?

“Just to turn heads as I’m driving around,” Darrel said.

And does it turn heads?

You betcha.

“I get people hanging out of the windows, photographing it,” he said. “Last time I went to fill it up with fuel, I had about 20 people round it. So yeah, it really does turn heads.

You get people flashing their lights, waving at you the whole time when you’re out in it.”

“People tell me they think it looks so cool, so ‘out there’. A lot of people think it's brand new. They think it’s the latest model of Volkswagen. They say, ‘Is that brand new?

When did they bring them out?’ They honestly think it’s a VW-produced one, because the quality is so good.”

Very impressive. But, at the end of the day, it’s still just a Transporter, right? Turning heads is one thing, but surely nothing could elevate this historically bland van to the icon status of the Volkswagen “Gods”—the Beetle, the Kombi, the Golf? No-one could seriously suggest a VW T6 Transporter could win over the hearts and minds of the people to join the pantheon of the greats.

“I took it down to the Day of the Volkswagen at Whitfords recently where there were 200 vehicles, and it came fifth in it out of all of them,” Darrel said. “It was the people’s choice, so I got an award for that. There were hundreds of Kombis down there, hundreds. Some of them were Samba Kombis, which they’d spent $200,000, $300,000 on. So, to get a place above them was quite an achievement.”

Iconic, you might say.

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A THRILLING WEEKEND AT THE GOLD COAST 500 V8 SUPERCARS Stars Travel unleashes an adrenaline-packed adventure for Capricorn Members In late October 2023, Capricorn Members embarked on an exhilarating journey, organised by Stars Travel, to the Gold Coast 500 V8 Supercars race.

The highlight? A welcome function featuring a special guest: Former V8 Supercars driver and current Porsche GT3 driver, Fabian Coulthard. Fabian engaged with Members, posing for photos and creating extra special memories.

Beyond the action on the racetrack, Members enjoyed a range of other attractions including shopping, swimming with dolphins, theme park thrills, and beachfront relaxation with cocktails. Keep an eye out for the next adventure!

TRADE EVENING at

MITRE 10

MEGA WELLINGTON

Exclusive shopping, tasty tacos, and a grand prize draw – our recent event was a hit!

We teamed up with Mitre 10 Mega Wellington for an exclusive Capricorn Member Trade Evening just before the end of 2023. The Petone store opened its doors after hours and treated Members to special deals, pulled pork tacos, and a chance to win a grand prize.

It was a fantastic success, offering a unique shopping experience without the pre-Christmas crowds.

Don't forget, reach out to your Capricorn Area Manager, if you need a new card or to update your PIN. *Use of the Capricorn Mitre 10 Card is subject to Terms and Conditions, please visit cap.coop/tc

1 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

AI

CHATBOTS and

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If you’ve ever engaged with a company using a live chat option on their website, you’ve probably engaged with a chatbot.

h atbots use artificial intelligence(AI) and machine learning to provide 24/7 customer support by resolving questions and enquiries without needing human-to-human interaction It’s tech that really came into its own during the pandemic, as businesses the world over embraced automation.

In the past year, of course, AI has begun to revolutionise and disrupt many industries and areas of life in earnest.

It’s technology that’s not going away, but is it just for the big end of town, or can every business make use of chatbots to improve efficiency and customer service?

In truth, there are plenty of good reasons to consider investing in this kind of technology.

1.

Chatbots improve efficiency and cut costs. According to research from IBM (Digital Customer Care in the Age of AI), chatbots can lead to as much as a 30% decline in customer support service costs and can handle 80% of routine tasks and customer questions.

2.

Chatbots resolve simple customer enquiries instantly. Customers don’t like having to wait to get an answer to a simple question and they hate being left on hold. Plus, you have better things to do than sit on the phone answering simple enquiries.

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3. They offer 24/7 support. Chatbots can

answer customer questions, even when you’re not there.

4. Chatbots keep learning and improving.

When a chatbot is able to answer a question, it can also interpret the context around the question and answer, which enables it to answer related questions. It also learns how to improve its answers, based on customer responses. You can train your chatbot!

5. They help you identify your leads. When

But will customers use them and accept them?

The 2020 State of Conversational Marketing Study by Drift and the Platform LiveChat Analytics Report by Comm100 found 87.2% of consumers who used chatbots said they had a neutral or positive experience, while 87.6% said they were satisfied with the service they received from chatbots (which was two percentage points higher than with human agents).

Chatbots won’t replace human interaction.

They won’t stop your phone ringing completely.

But they are a simple and attractive way to enhance your customer service offering, while improving your business efficiency.

a customer is browsing your website for information, you have no idea who they are and what they want to know. When they engage with your chatbot, you suddenly have data about them and their enquiry. You can use this to make sure you were able to answer their questions.

6.

Chatbots ensure an “on brand” customer service experience. You get to teach and train your chatbot, so you get to tell it how to talk to your customers. You can be sure that every customer who engages with the chatbot gets the standard of customer service they expect. Technology that can do all that sounds expensive—and the complex ones are—but in fact there are reliable chatbot service providers that offer subscription-based services in packages starting from about $50 a month.

CR A IPCROI C I TNI OANP R MI A CAP RO N RI N G NI G I TNI O L R2C 0H 2 32 1092 4

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Your Rewards Points can now be redeemed for almost anything.

If you have Rewards Points saved up, you can now redeem them for just about anything you want.* Rewards+ lets you truly reward yourself for the hard work you put into your business.

So, what will you splash out on?

Find out how it works at capricorn.coop/rewards *Under Rewards+, Members can request to redeem their Reward Points for rewards they nominate that fit within certain criteria as determined by Capricorn. Rewards+ cannot be used for purchases under $5,000 and cannot be used for services or travel. Any proposed redemptions through Rewards+ are subject to Capricorn’s final approval. Participation in the Capricorn Rewards Program (including Rewards+) is subject to terms and conditions. For full terms and conditions, please visit capricorn.coop/tc

EXPERT’S GUIDE to the

FORMULA AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024

by Paul Marinelli

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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Australia’s biggest motorsport event is set for another massive edition, with the FORMULA 1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 taking place at the Albert Park Circuit this month, from 21 to 24 March 2024.

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t took just two hours for race day tickets to the 2024 event to completely sell out, following the biggest pre-registration for a sporting event in Ticketmaster Australia’s history.

The F1 Australian Grand Prix has recorded back-to-back four-day crowd records for each of the last two years, with 419,114 attending in 2022 and 444,631 in 2023. As FORMULA 1 continues to boom in popularity as a result of the Netflix Drive to Survive series, along with showcasing the fastest cars the global series has ever produced, the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 looks set to achieve yet another attendance record.

Of course, F1 headlines the event, with Australia yet again hosting the third round of the world championship following the opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. F1 will be joined for the second year running by the F2 and F3 categories, the international junior formulas where future F1 stars are developed. Each category will compete in one race on the Saturday and Sunday of the Grand Prix weekend. The local favourite Supercars will also be part of the show, with four races across the weekend, forming the second round of the 2024 Supercars Championship.

The F1 Australian Grand Prix 2024 will also be the second event to feature two Australian drivers, with crowd favourite and proud West Australian Daniel Ricciardo competing with the Visa Cash App RB and Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri competing in his second F1 Australian Grand Prix with the McLaren F1 Team. (Last time was back in 2013 when Ricciardo and Mark Webber competed).

The grandstands were the first to sell out for 2024, so your only way into this mammoth motor racing event is by General Admission — but don’t let that deter you.

Fans can get a hold of a Park Pass that enables you to roam the entire circuit, allowing you to watch the action from various general admission vantage points across the circuit.

The most popular area for this is Brocky’s Hill, located at Turn 9. The elevated mound gives fans a great vantage point at one of the fastest corners on the circuit, as drivers navigate through Turns 9 and 10 absolutely flat out.

It was this section of the track that underwent a significant redesign ahead of the 2022 event, with the modification of the Turn 9-10 complex from a slow right-left corner to a fast and sweeping right-left corner, making it a much faster and more overtaking friendly part of the circuit.

Other popular general admission areas include the exit of Turn 2 and entry of Turn 3, particularly for race starts as the pack battles it out for position.

Then, after the flowing middle section of the circuit, there are good general admission vantage points heading towards the end of the lap and the pit entry, through the technical Turn 11 to 13 section.

Off the track there are a number of fun activities taking place during each day of the four-day event. If you want to see and meet the drivers, the Melbourne Walk is the place to do it.

Located on the inside of the track, it’s where the drivers walk from their cars/ team transport to enter the paddock, stopping to sign autographs, do TV interviews and take photos with the fans. It is the only Grand Prix venue in the world that does this and it has proven to be a massive hit with the fans, drivers and team personnel each year.

The drivers and teams exit the track the same way at the end of each day, so you have two chances for a selfie or autograph. Drivers tend to arrive not long after the gates to the event are open, so you should make your way to Melbourne Walk as soon as you have access to the venue. In the afternoons, be there about 30 minutes to one hour after the final F1 session of the day.

The Supercars paddock is open to all General Admission (Park Pass) fans attending and the Grand Prix represents an excellent opportunity to meet your favourite Supercars teams and drivers. This also applies to all Australian support racing categories taking part, such as the world’s fastest one-make motor racing series, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.

Make sure you take your credit card, as each Grand Prix team is represented in the trackside merchandise stores, which have something for everyone, and there are numerous food trucks and stalls offering tasty cuisines from all over the world.

The event also includes roving musical and theatrical artists, sponsor activations, bars, trade displays, fan zones and more for any motor racing or automotive enthusiast, including an array of historic cars on display. There is definitely something for everyone at the FORMULA 1 Australian Grand Prix.

For those of you who couldn’t get a ticket or cannot travel to Melbourne for this amazing sporting experience, there will be wall-to-wall coverage of the event live on Network 10, FOX Sports Australia and Kayo Sports.

The event organisers also conduct a number of super stage interviews located at the centre of the circuit and near the merchandise outlets each day. These appearances are also shown on massive super screens to ensure that everyone gets a good look at their Formula One heroes.

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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Car Review

2023

CUPRA

Formentor VZ Tribe Edition

24 CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

I

t’s been a few years since CUPRA has been on the market in New Zealand. It’s clear to see that Kiwis seem to like them. From what the team have seen from the CUPRA range, you get more bang for your buck on the sporty models, with similar performance figures and a higher spec level than some of the other well-known European brands.

The CUPRA Formentor VZ is back with our team for another review. Rob Clubley reviewed the CUPRA Formentor VZ in 2021. The Formentor scored well, with a 7.9 overall score, with its highest score on value. The price has gone up a little bit and with the addition of the Tribe Edition, we need to see what has changed. Is it still as good of a value as it was back in 2021?

What we like and dislike about the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ What we like

What we don’t like

● Looks ● Performance ● Handling ● Comfort ● Equipment levels ● Value

● Touch controls ● No heads-up display ● The rear seat headrests are very hard to remove ● Booster seat fitment in the rear, due to headrests

What’s in the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ range?

Since 2021, the Formentor range has expanded from two to five variants. The VZ Tribe Edition is the vehicle we are currently road testing.

The Tribe Edition is new to the line-up and with it comes a selection of special options. Unlike the regular VZ, which is available in eight different colours, the Tribe Edition is only available in two colours. Midnight Black is also available on the regular VZ; however, Cliff Grey is an $850 option only available on the Tribe Edition, and it’s the colour of our review vehicle.

Where this gets a bit confusing is that you can opt for the Tribe Edition pack on the V E-Hybrid and the VZ, and once you do, your colour options are limited to Midnight Black and Cliff Grey. The other changes to the car include: Black Dinamica/leather seats, and the front grille, wheels, cladding parts and exterior mirror covers in Sport Black Matte. This package is a $4,600 option.

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

25

I must admit the Formentor VZ Tribe Edition in Cliff Grey does look very good — very sharp, very modern, and with just the right amount of sporty flair to say that it is not your normal family vehicle. The paint, however, has caused some controversy. Is it grey or is it green?

There are only a few options once you select the Tribe Edition. You can upgrade to Matrix LED Headlights for $1,700. Add in an electric panoramic sunroof for $2,900 or an electric released tow bar with a 50 mm ball for $1,750. Last but not least, you can upgrade to Brembo high-performance brakes with calipers in red for $4,500.

How does the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ range compare to its competition?

Not much has changed since the 2021 review: prices of everything have crept up, but the CUPRA still stands out as a great value package.

Please note that DriveLife does its best to ensure the information below is correct at the time of publication; however, prices and models can change over time. Please bear that in mind when comparing models in the table.

Power/ Torque

Seats

(L/100km)

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

225/450

5

7.6

450

$79,600

Cupra Formentor VZ Tribe Edition

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

228/310

5

7.7

345

$78,500

Cupra Formentor VZ

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

228/310

5

7.7

345

$73,900

VW T-Roc R

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

221/400

5

9.3

392

$69,990

Make/ Model

Engine

Mini Countryman John Cooper Works Classic

(kW/Nm)

Fuel

Boot Space

(litres)

Price

(excl.

CCP)

First impressions of the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ range The CUPRA Formentor VZ Tribe Edition has a strong presence, especially in the Cliff Grey. The CUPRA brand promotes pure performance; the v-designed front grille and angular intake combined with the sculpted door and rear arch line give the overall feel and stance of this Formentor a sporty vibe.

What I like about the current CUPRA range is that the sporty feel is reminiscent of the designs of the early 2000s where the top of the top-of-the-range models were a lot more subtle, which made the cars feel a bit like sleepers. It has some sporty appeal, but it doesn’t shout from the hilltops with crazy body styles that it can do 0-100 km in under five seconds.

2 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

What’s the interior like in the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ range?

Inside, the 2023 Formentor has seen very little change: fit and finish are excellent and the plastics feel solid and stylish. The main difference with the Tribe Edition is the Black Dinamica/leather seats with the Alcantara centre section. These look great and make it feel like a very high-end sports car.

These seats are comfy, more so than the fully leather seats, as the Alcantara has a bit more stretch than the leather. It also breathes a bit better, so there will be less chance of getting too sweaty on those hot days. Adjustment of the seats is nice and quick; the previous driver must have been short as the seat was at the highest setting. But it took no time at all to adjust back down for me, and it impressed me with the full range of height adjustment.

The rear seats are equally well-appointed and there’s good leg room for a car of this size. However, I did have one issue with them when fitting my daughter’s booster seat. She is six years old and in a Britax Highpoint Booster seat with back and side support. In most cars, I need to remove the headrests in the rear to allow the booster seat to be positioned properly on the vehicle’s rear seat. But in the Formentor I could not figure out how to remove the headrest. I tried for several minutes, on both sides, and couldn’t remove them. This was a problem, as it left the booster seat pushed forward with a gap behind it, which my daughter didn’t like, as she was sitting too upright.

The driver has a fully digital 10.2” display which is configurable with all sorts of displays from a simple digital speedo, rev counter with boost and G-meters, or full-colour satnav map just to give a few examples.

It’s bright and clear and easy to read. There’s no heads-up display, which would be nice to have in a sporty car like this.

One area where CUPRA has added their flair to the car is with the steering wheel. There’s the usual array of buttons for cruise control, operating the menus in the driver display, and audio. They’re all pretty logically laid out, though I found it a little awkward at first having a left-hand thumb wheel for the volume and right-hand buttons for track skipping. Where the CUPRA magic happens is with the two big round buttons at about 4 and 8 o’clock on the steering wheel, for engine start and drive modes. In other VAG cars, the start, and particularly the drive mode buttons, feel like a bit of an afterthought and are not immediately to hand.

CUPRA has fixed this, realising that these are part of the driving experience of your sporty car.

One button I found a bit out of place was the Traction Control button, which is right above the gear selection toggle. I am sure if you owned the car this would not be an issue, but I found myself trying to use this button to start or stop the car many times as it felt like the place to put the engine start/stop button.

The Bluetooth connection worked well and consistently. You can use both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wirelessly if they are your thing. The 340W Beats Audio surround sound system is very good, with the nine speakers supplying good clarity, and decent bass helped by a sub in the middle of the spare wheel.

The rear seats are 60/40 split for load flexibility and there’s a ski hatch behind the centre armrest. Boot capacity is a respectable 345 litres, or 1,415 litres with the seats folded. The boot is a good shape, with bag hooks and steel tie-down loops.

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27

What’s the 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ range like to drive?

Like all great sports and performance cars, the experience needs to be a show. The CUPRA driving experience starts with the big round button on the steering wheel. One press of this with the brake pedal depressed and the engine fires into life. The car defaults to Comfort mode but hit the CUPRA button on the other side of the steering wheel twice, once for Sport mode and once again, and you’re in CUPRA mode. This tightens up steering response, throttle response, gear shifts and suspension, and makes a more aggressive noise. The Sports and CUPRA modes give some great sounds, and you get some pops and cracks from the exhaust when in CUPRA mode too.

Just so I cover all the options, I must mention the CUPRA button cycles through Comfort, Sport, CUPRA, Individual and Off-road. These all work as you’d expect. There’s no Eco mode, so if you want to drive your sports SUV efficiently, it’s up to you to moderate that right foot in Comfort mode.

Around town the CUPRA is easy to drive — its relatively small size means it fits well around Wellington’s occasionally tight and congested roads.

And it fits easily into car parks, unlike some larger SUVs. The smart cruise works well and comes to a complete stop. It can be a bit jerky at low speeds, but I found the same when driving it myself. Something about the transmission or the throttle tuning made it tricky to drive smoothly at low speeds.

I like the way CUPRA has integrated the blind spot warning into the ambient LED strip in the doors.

When there’s a car in your blind spot the front section of the strip glows bright orange. Neat, and a clever re-use of an existing component.

The Formentor feels quite nippy around town, but like the Audi S3 it shares a powertrain with, in normal driving it disguises its 228 kW of power pretty well.

It’s easy to forget how powerful this car is.

On the motorway, everything is fine. Ride comfort is good and road noise isn’t intrusive. But this is a sporty SUV, and once you get out of the city and off the highways it’s time to hit that CUPRA button.

When you do there’s a pronounced growl of engine noise, everything tightens up, and when you lift off the accelerator there’s childishly satisfying pops and woofling noises. Accelerate hard and the Formentor will demonstrate its rather rapid 4.9-second 0-100 time, making the classic dual-clutch “DSG farts” as it shifts gear so quickly you can hardly tell it’s doing it — except the speedo digits are going up pretty rapidly.

Thanks to the four-wheel drive system and XDS Electronic differential lock, cornering and grip are impressive. In the few times I drove the Formentor on winding roads, I never even approached any limits of traction or grip. It’s impressive, as is the way it controls body roll. It suffers a little from the same issues that I had with the Audi S3, that it’s somehow a little too competent, and feels like it wants to go way faster than speed limits allow. But you really can have a lot of fun with this car.

What about fuel consumption? Interestingly the factory figures on the car have changed since our last review, going from 7.7 to 8.6. When I drove the vehicle, I had a mix of short and medium trips, and many were at pace so I was somewhat over the advertised consumption, averaging 12.9l/100km.

I’m confident this would be lower if you threw in a few longer trips or some economical driving to make more of a combined figure.

2 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ Tribe Edition Summary The 2023 CUPRA Formentor VZ Tribe Edition is, as they say, a lot of car for the money. $79,350 is not cheap by any means, but the package delivers a highend sporty vehicle and one that you can have a lot of fun with without having to be too worried about what you’re doing. This is thanks to the great 4Drive system and the raft of driver safety systems that come as standard. The CUPRA Formentor VZ is good clean fun, regardless of what the Clean Car Scheme thinks.

It could be your biggest mistake to overlook the CUPRA Formentor VZ while shopping for a new SUV in the $70,000-$90,000 range. I feel the Formentor’s overall package would always stand out on top for amazing value.

7

Driver Technology

7

Economy

7

Handling

7

Infotainment

7

Interior

8

Performance

7

Ride

9

Safety

8

Styling

9

Value

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CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

29

ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS READY TO PAY MORE FOR ADAS REPAIR COSTS?

3 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are blowing out the costs of vehicle repairs by up to nearly 40 per cent, and experts are warning workshops to adequately prepare their customers in order to avoid bill shock.

A

recent study by the American Automobile Association (AAA) found ADAS, which includes features like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warnings, can add up to 37.6 per cent to the total repair cost after a crash. This is due mostly to the high cost of replacing and calibrating the sensors that these systems rely on.

The study compared the costs of repairs for 2018 models to 2023 models of the same vehicles (the 2023 Ford F-150, 2023 Nissan Rogue, and 2023 Toyota Camry). It found the cost of repairing minor front-end collisions was up an average of 13.2 per cent, the cost of side mirror replacements was up 70.8% and the cost of minor rear collision repairs was up 40.9%.

In its report, AAA warned consumers to both “be aware of the repair costs associated with these vehicle systems” and to “prioritise repairing them when necessary to ensure they work as intended”.

While the vehicles used for the study were obviously the American models, the data is likely to be comparable for Australian and New Zealand models where ADAS systems are present. Which is why for the past year, at least in Australia, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) has been urging repair workshops to lay the groundwork with customers. In March 2023, Lesley Yates, AAAA’s Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, said workshops should seize the opportunity to “pull back the curtain” and educate consumers about ADAS and the cost of ADAS repair.

“Many commentators are already pointing out the need for the automotive industry to better educate and engage consumers on how to incorporate ADAS technology into the day-to-day driving experience,” she said.

“Perhaps this is a role that we can play. For instance, as we undertake logbook servicing of these new vehicles, there is an opportunity to educate consumers on the features and to intentionally work in a conversation about ADAS. “This is the right time for the independent aftermarket to work together to support consumer awareness that we have the training and the technology to ensure their ADAS technology continues to operate within the required operating parameters.”

The opportunity for our industry from ADAS is certainly immense. According to data from Persistence Market Research, a New York-based research consultancy, the value of the global ADAS aftermarket in 2022 was US$1.058 billion (NZ$1.7 billion) and is expected to reach US$2.77 billion (NZ$4.45 million) by 2033—a compound annual growth rate of around 9.1 per cent.

With so much opportunity on the line, it’s no wonder the AAAA is warning the aftermarket industry to set the narrative around ADAS repair now.

“We are experiencing some subtle public messaging from the car industry implying you can only trust an authorised repairer to service an ADAS-equipped vehicle,” Lesley said.

“This is clearly not true.”

CAPRICORN IGNITION MARCH 2024

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