Ignition Magazine New Zealand | December 2021

DECEMBER 2021 - JANUARY MARCH 2022 2021

FUTURE RIDE THE MORPHOZ

5 STARS FOR CAPRICORN RISK SERVICES

NEW SERVICE AWARDS RECOGNISING THE QUALITY OF THEIR CLAIMS DRIVELIFE REVIEW 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line.

GET READY FOR EVS! 6 steps to help you get your workshop ready!

DRIVING LESSONS And car care these school holidays.

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CONTENTS DEC 21/JAN 22

David Fraser Group CEO

5 Capricorn Risk

CEO’s message

Services

Has been awarded 5 star service by LMI Group

Have you ever looked at the world’s most successful brands and wondered what made them so great? As someone leading an amazing organisation focused on supporting you in your business, I do this all the time. And I’ve come to some conclusions.

While I don’t think there’s a specific recipe for success, I do think there are a number of essential ingredients that are common to great leaders and great companies. I firmly believe that anyone in business, no matter the size of their enterprise, can enjoy real success if they embrace these ingredients—and that includes you and your business.

The example I’m going to use is Apple, because it really provides the modern template.

When a couple of twenty-something college dropouts started working out of Steve Jobs’ family garage in 1976, they had no idea what Apple would go on to become.

What’s made them such a success? A lot of things. Here are four of those ingredients, and how you can leverage them in your own business: Constantly innovate and appeal to a wide range of people.

Keeping up with innovative new vehicle technology requires constant investment in equipment and skills development. Customers expect us to be able to solve their problems, and there’s not always a textbook available. We need to be able to think creatively. And we need to develop the people skills that allow us to attract and retain customers (and employees), so we can interact positively with whomever comes through the door.

Become a brand in and of yourself.

Steve Jobs, as the face of Apple, was a brand in his own right—and his leadership was integral to the success of the company. You are your own brand; be the face of your business in your community. Be recognisable. Research also shows people who choose independent workshops like talking to the person who is working on their car, so get to know your customers.

Have a clear plan to make a difference.

Success doesn’t happen overnight or by accident. Apple had clear aims to make a difference. What distinguishes them is they’re not afraid come up with innovative solutions and then make them better and make them better. So, look around, see what others are doing, come up with ideas, and then execute them better than anyone else, and do it better.

Have a relentless focus on customer service.

While it’s obviously the products that drive Apple’s success, the company is also really focused on providing great customer service. That helps them get buy-in from their customers, winning them a customer for life. Provide your customers with warm, friendly, exceptional customer service every single time and they’ll keep coming back.

You don’t have to be a company the size of Apple to enjoy the success of Apple. You can take the ingredients of their success and create your own recipe. Success won’t be instant. Don’t forget, Apple started in a garage. The secret is to constantly work at becoming better. It’s okay to take incremental steps towards improving your systems, processes, time-management, skills, and customer service. Every step forward is progress.

Yours in cooperation,

David Fraser Group CEO

6 Capricorn Rewards Not over the Christmas treats? Get your wishlist in order

8 Ensure a Painless Claim

Capricorn Risk Services

10 DriveLife NZ 14 Future Ride 16 Driving Lessons 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line

The Renault Morphoz

And car care these school holidays

18 Member Ride 20 2022 is Coming 22 The one big thing you probably How to plan for the year ahead

haven’t done But really need to!

24 7 Tips 26 Employing an

For running a financially efficient workshop

Apprentice

The information and incentives you need

28 Get Ready for

EVs

6 steps to help you get your workshop ready!

CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 3

MEMBER RIDE

Lucky Kelvin’s Mustang win

a dream come true...

One of the most fascinating parts of any Member Ride is finding out how the person and the car came together.

Over the years, we’ve heard every kind of wonderful story: Members who’ve restored a car they grew up with, Members who’ve driven across the country to collect a wreck in a paddock and lovingly restored it, Members who’ve trawled car ads for years to find the exact make and model they’ve always loved — and everything in between.

But the “how did you meet” story between Kelvin Parker and his 2021 Ford Mustang GT is a new one on us.

And it might just make you a little bit jealous. “I won it at the Crown Casino, in a competition with Coke,” Kelvin said.

“It is a Limited Edition, race red Mustang GT with a black shadow roof and black stripes, valued at $80,000 — which is not a bad deal for buying a $5.90 bottle of Coke with dinner at the Junction Grill.”

Before you start preparing your voodoo doll, Kelvin is well aware he’s the luckiest man in Australia. It’s hard to imagine talking to someone more stoked about his good fortune than Kelvin.

“I’ve been in love with Mustangs for a long time,” he said. “Every time I go to the United States, I hire one. I’ve been doing that since 1970.

“It’s the roar, the sound, the power: you just can’t beat a V8. I just love a muscle car.

“But I’ve never owned one, and I would probably never have bought one, either, because it was never a family car and, economically, they’re not really that viable.” But the big fuel bills are now Kelvin’s to enjoy — and he’s not complaining.

Kelvin owns Prestige Sunroofs in the southern suburbs of Perth. He and partner, Someekhae, went to the casino just after New Year’s Day this year. Someekhae enjoys a flutter and Kelvin enjoys the restaurant – and both of them were in luck that day.

“We had the meal and my partner went down to play on the machines, while I stayed for dessert,” he said. “No rush, I said, but 15 minutes later she came back and slapped a ticket on the counter.

She’d just won a mini jackpot on one of the machines — $860. “I thought, well that’s a good start to 2021.”

It was as Kelvin was paying the bill the waiter pointed out he’d had a Coke and was therefore eligible to enter a competition. He shoved the information in his pocket and went home. The next day he was at the office doing some paperwork when he found the competition slip in his jacket pocket. Noticing the prize was a red Mustang, he decided to enter.

“I looked at the terms and conditions on the page and it said the competition closed on the Sunday, that Sunday. So, I thought, ‘Oh well, at least I don’t have to wait long’.

“Then on the Monday afternoon the phone rings, and it’s Crown Casino.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

It took a few months for the Mustang to arrive in WA but Kelvin said the agonising wait was worth it (it actually arrived on his birthday — an amazing coincidence). “It’s amazing to drive,” he said. “It’s so good to handle; it grips the road.”

Kelvin said the Mustang was going to be a weekend and special occasion drive. “It’s not the sort of car I’m going to park in the street,” he said.

A five-litre V8, 10-speed automatic, the Mustang has a full-width LED dashboard.

“It means you can change all the gauges around to exactly where you want them,” Kelvin said. “It’s got a full LED lighting system in the headlights and sidelights.” The leather seats have heating and cooling.

What it doesn’t have is a sunroof and, unfortunately because of the shape, one can’t be installed. Still, you can’t win ’em all, can you?

While the story of how Kelvin finally came to own his own Mustang might not have followed the usual path, we reckon it’s a pretty good yarn. It’s also a good reminder that you’ve got to be in it to win it — and you just never know your luck!

TM

5 stars for Capricorn Risk Services Capricorn Risk Services is proud to announce new service awards recognising the quality of their claims service.

When buying insurance or mutual protection, what you’re really buying is a promise. A promise that you’ll get the support you need when things go wrong. Well, it must be comforting to know that Capricorn Mutual’s promise has been given a 5-star rating by independent claims and risk management consultants, LMI Group.

Capricorn Mutual handles over 4,000 claims each year across a range of products such as commercial property, commercial motor, liability and motor vehicle. The liability and private motor sections received 5-star ratings, with 4.5-star ratings for commercial property and motor claims.

LMI Group rates the quality of claims services provided by Australian insurers, including mutuals, recognising outstanding performance and driving positive change within the industry. In its assessments, LMI Group evaluates publicly available complaints resolution statistics, supplier surveys and the quality of claims-related product benefits.

“This is a fantastic achievement and I’m so pleased to receive external recognition for our hard work”, said Michael White, Capricorn’s Claims Manager. “Claims is a tough job and it’s nice to know how we compare against our competitors. It also gives us great satisfaction that our Members are receiving the service they deserve.”

commitment to keeping their Members at the heart of their business. With more than 40% of Capricorn Members now with Capricorn Risk Services, more Members than ever are now receiving a 4.5- to 5-star claims service.

Capricorn Mutual is an exclusive risk protection mutual for Members, that is designed specifically for automotive businesses. Not currently with Capricorn Risk Services? To request a quote for protection, call your Risk Account Manager today, or visit capricorn.coop/risk.

Receiving such recognition is not only an outstanding achievement for Capricorn Mutual but recognition of Capricorn Risk’s

Contact Capricorn Risk Services 0800 555 303 I info@capricornrisk.com I capricorn.coop/risk Products sold through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd (NZBN 9429041139813) include discretionary risk protection and general insurance products. Discretionary risk protection is issued out of Australia by Capricorn Mutual Ltd. Before deciding to acquire discretionary risk protection you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to see if it is appropriate for you. This can be obtained from Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd by phoning 0800 555 303, via email at info@capricornrisk.com, or by visiting the website: capricornrisk.com. General insurance products are issued by a range of insurers and are available through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd as a member broker of PSC Connect NZ Limited. Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd is a registered financial services provider (390446) and a corporate Authorised Representative (No. 460893) of Capricorn Mutual Ltd (AFSL 230038).

Go for goals What’s on your wishlist?

Setting a Capricorn Rewards goal is an easy way to see how many points you are saving.

WISHLIST SPENDING!

Simply browse capricorn.coop/rewards and click the target icon when you find something you might want.

You can then see the real value of the points you’re earning as you get closer and closer to your savings target.

Some great goal ideas include: Briggs Stratton Inverter Generator

Assualt Air Bike

Sony X7000G 65 4k Ultra HD HDR Smart TV

Momentum 2021 Transend E+ GTS eBike

Nikon Z 5 Mirrorless Digital Camera

Fisher and Paykel Wine Chiller

Borniak 70 Stainless Steel (304) Smoker

Simply click the target icon to set your Capricorn Rewards goal

Products subject to availability.

capricorn.coop/rewards

GOLD RUSH WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Parts Connection Preferred Supplier Bonus Points Promotion Capricorn Preferred Supplier, Parts Connection, continues to give back to Members with their generous prize pool of Capricorn Preferred Supplier Bonus Points worth $30,000.

Members who purchased from any Parts Connection member received a lucky gold nugget card which put them in the running.

The list of lucky winners this month include; 100,000 Preferred Supplier Bonus Points • Midas New Plymouth • Edwards Panel & Paint • Darfield Collision Centre • Shields Bros Panel & Paint A big thank you to all Members who participated in the campaign!

winners Congratulations to the following Members who won a Smoko Shout for their workshop.

Members simply had to use the CAP ezi-parts service between September and November 2021 for their chance to win a Smoko Shout for their workshop.

Save time finding the best deal.

Login to Capricorn and submit your CAP ezi-parts request. Our Preferred Supplier network will then respond with prices and delivery times.

September Winners South Island • Piston Cranky Motors Lower North Island • Sergio & Son Automotive Upper North Island • Stewart Motors NZ October Winners South Island • Northcote Garage Lower North Island • Global Auto Works Upper North Island • Hamilton Automotive Rep

CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 7

TM

What you can do to ensure a painless claim No-one wants to have to make a claim against their protection policy. But, when you do, you want it to be as painless as possible.

Yet many policy holders do not take the simplest of steps required to do just that — and it can blow out the time taken to get things back to normal from perhaps as short as a week, to many months.

So, what are the secrets to ensuring a painless claims process? We asked Auckland based Loss Adjuster Debra Young to comment. She is part of the team at Mainland Claims Management who are independent Loss Adjusters engaged by providers such as Capricorn Mutual to manage claims.

A Loss Adjuster’s role is to assess and manage claims ensuring the Member receives their entitlements as per the protection wording and to validate the loss.

Take out the right protection Debra’s first tip to ensure a painless claim starts at the time you take out the protection, ensuring you have taken out the correct coverage.

It’s important you are honest with your Risk Account Manager and correctly value your assets or you may find you are under protected at claim time.

“One example is the employee’s tools of trade,” Debra said. The standard coverage is $5,000 per employee, and up to $10,000 per event. However, $5,000 to replace tools and equipment is not very much and if there are more than two employees you will likely require a higher limit of protection.”

Keep an up-to-date asset list Next, make sure you have a comprehensive asset list which you update every time you

make a new purchase for home or your business.

“Capricorn Mutual requires the original proof of purchase receipts for the damaged or lost items,” Debra explained. “If you cannot provide original receipts, we’re going to have a challenge validating the claim.”

Not having an asset list is the major reason for delays in processing claims. Debra gave an example of one business owner who had to photograph the tools he found amongst the ashes in his burned-out premises, to try to prove ownership after a fire.

Debra recommends using a secure web-based service to store copies of all your receipts and photos of your assets. Some services will even allow you to add serial numbers, photographs, and other information.

At the very least, Debra suggests storing electronic copies of all your receipts in the cloud — not just for your business, but for anything you buy for your home, too.

Every time you buy a new tool or piece of equipment, update your asset list and store the receipt electronically. Do it as soon as you buy the item, so you don’t forget.

Photograph or video everything What if you don’t have receipts?

“If you don’t have the original purchase receipts, we suggest you photograph all your tools and equipment including serial numbers where present and open drawers and cabinets and either video or photograph all your belongings both commercial and domestic” Debra said. “That is a starting point and upload the data to a cloud-based asset register.”

ownership.”

Debra said it is important the photos or videos clearly show exactly what an item is, including any serial numbers, brand names and model information.

Read your SOP and PDS It might not be the most fun you’ll ever have, but carefully read both your Schedule of Protection (SOP) and your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

The SOP sets out the cost of and level of any protections granted to you. It also details the applicable excesses and government charges as well as any special conditions applicable to your protection. The PDS is an important legal document that contains information and details of the protection, including for Members with Capricorn Mutual. It is designed to help you understand all you need to know about your protection provider, for example, Capricorn Mutual so that you can make an informed choice about whether or not to join a protection provider like Capricorn Mutual and apply for protection.

“It’s really important that you read the two documents together and understand them,” Debra said. If you don’t understand them, talk to your Risk Account Manager .

Painless claims are possible By following Debra’s advice it’s possible to get your claim processed quickly and painlessly.

Unfortunately, it’s advice many people don’t take seriously enough until it’s too late.

That can needlessly turn a process that should take days or weeks into one that can take months.

What you do next is up to you!

“That way at least you have evidence of

Contact Capricorn Risk Services 0800 555 303 I info@capricornrisk.com I capricorn.coop/risk Products sold through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd (NZBN 9429041139813) include discretionary risk protection and general insurance products. Discretionary risk protection is issued out of Australia by Capricorn Mutual Ltd. Before deciding to acquire discretionary risk protection you should consider the Product Disclosure Statement to see if it is appropriate for you. This can be obtained from Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd by phoning 0800 555 303 via email info@capricornrisk.com or by visiting website capricornrisk.com. General insurance products are issued by a range of insurers and are available through Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd as a member broker of PSC Connect NZ Limited. Capricorn Risk Services Pty Ltd is a registered financial services provider (390446) and a corporate Authorised Representative (No. 460893) of Capricorn Mutual Ltd (AFSL 230038).

8 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

TM

Stars RETURNING FEBRUARY 2022

CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 9

DRIVELIFE

2021 HYUNDAI KONA N LINE performance at a price Written by DriveLife online

It’s been a while since I’ve been in a Kona, and in fact, the last one was the Gen1 EV model that my wife and I drove to Auckland and back. We have fond memories of that trip, mainly that a long trip with an EV wasn’t really an issue at all.

2021 brings the Gen2 version of the Kona. Last month, Rob drove the mid-range Elite model, and overall he enjoyed it. This month, I’m in the more sporty version: the 146 kW N Line. Is it worth paying $10K over the Elite model to get 36 more kilowatts?

And perhaps more importantly, is the 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line a car that has no market?

FIRST IMPRESSSIONS Well, at least it’s not grey. That Kona EV we took on a trip to Auckland was so much grey, and it was not a car that popped in photos. I have to say, Hyundai has done well with the face lift. The front looks exactly as you’d expect a Kona to look, yet it’s freshened up with a much more futuristic front end without going over the top into weirdness.

Instead of the rugged skid plate of the new Kona, the N Line version features a characteristic N-style aerodynamic lip with low-lying corner fins for what Hyundai says is “a road-hugging appearance”.

Larger, more technical air intake features are further distinguished by a unique mesh design and surface treatment.

In N Line guise, it’s a sharp-looking car, especially up front. I’ll be honest and say I’ve always liked the look of the Kona.

Sure, there’s a lot happening head-on, but in times when it’s getting harder to distinguish different brands or models of SUV, the Kona is distinctive – there’s no mistaking it for something else coming towards you on the road.

Around the back things start to get a little busy. There seem to be taillights on taillights, or at least that’s what it looks like. While it certainly doesn’t look any different from the previous gen model, the front, sides and rear of the car have all been updated, but it’s fairly subtle. At the rear, there are new taillights and a new bumper design. Those dual exhaust tips give the game away that this isn’t the Elite or Limited model.

1 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

The rear bumper incorporates a large central aerodynamic diffuser in a contrast colour to the body, and the bumper fascia is formed with sharply creased corners and N-style fins for better airflow.

THE RANGE There’s a range of four Konas to pick from, if you exclude the EV model. At the bottom end is the $34,990 Entry, powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that manages 110 kW of power and 180 Nm of torque. It’s joined to a CVT automatic transmission, and this engine/gearbox combo is used across the range, except for the N Line, of course.

The N Line has a 1.6-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, giving you 146kW/265Nm. It has a 7-speed dual-

clutch automatic transmission instead of the CVT. The Entry model has 17” alloy wheels, a tyre pressure monitoring system, an electric park brake with auto hold, electric folding and heated exterior mirrors, LED DRLs, a roof spoiler with LED stop light, a leather steering wheel and gearshift gaiter, keyless entry, an 8” central touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4-speaker audio system, and a 4.2” colour driver’s information display.

Moving up to the $39,990 Elite model, you also get privacy and solar glass, 18” alloys, a full leather interior, an 8-way electric driver’s seat, 6-way electric passenger’s seat, heated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, keyless start, a 10.25” central touchscreen, SatNav, a Harmon Kardon 8-speaker audio system, and climate AC. The Elite certainly seems to be the sweet spot of the range.

For $5,000 more ($44,990), the Limited version has bi-LED headlights, heated rear seats, LED taillights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ventilated front seats, a heads-up display, and lastly a 10.25” colour driver’s information display.

At $49,990, the Kona N Line doesn’t have any of those Limited extras; it’s kitted out the same as the Elite model.

Your Kona comes with lots of safety systems, with even the base model having Blind Spot Collision Avoidance, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keep Assist, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, six air bags, automatic headlights, rear park assist system, a reversing camera, and a first aid kit. As far as safety goes, the Elite adds an automatic dipping rearview mirror and automatic wipers. The Limited then adds automatic high beam headlights and front park assist system. Weirdly, the Kona N Line loses both of those items, so its safety equipment is at the Elite level.

Colours now available are Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Cyber Grey, and Misty Jungle. These are in addition to five existing colours, including Phantom Black, Chalk

White, Dark Knight, Pulse Red and Galactic Grey. Every colour can be combined with the Phantom Black two-tone roof, and the two-tone roof also comes with matching mirror housings.

Check out the Hyundai New Zealand website for more Kona information.

THE INTERIOR I was really expecting something special inside the car – this is the N Line, after all – but it’s all fairly standard Kona. For the N Line, there is some red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and transmission gaiter, and the top of the seats have an ‘N’ logo on them. It also has some ‘anodised’ red plastic bits around the cabin and there’s metal pedals, but other than that there’s no distinction between the N Line and other models.

All the controls look and feel the same as the previous gen, but there is that centre display that’s much bigger at 10.25” and has a lot more clarity – it’s a massive improvement over the previous model. The new (touch) screen also comes with a split-screen function and allows multiple Bluetooth connections, and it’s nicely quick between screens.

The steering wheel controls are identical to the previous gen too, but I’m happy about that. After a run of cars that have moved to haptic steering wheel controls, I was very happy to see that Hyundai hasn’t jumped on that bandwagon; their steering wheel controls are simple to use without looking down, and that’s a win.

The interior does feel very cheap, and plasticky. Hyundai has tried to use some different textures, but it feels sub-par. Both Hyundai and Kia have made leaps and bounds in the use of interior materials and textures lately, so it was a bit disappointing to see that the interior of the Kona is pretty much untouched in this department.

But there have been other improvements over the previous model, with extra rear

leg room, more cargo space, a redesigned console and a move to an electric park brake. There’s also new ambient light technology that illuminates the centre cup holders as well as the passenger and driver side footwells, and new aluminium-finish rings around the speakers and air vents.

The second row seats can also be adjusted for height, and I expect passengers who sometimes feel car sick will appreciate being able to lift the seat up that bit higher.

The centre console has a camera button and I was expecting this to be a 360-degree camera, but there isn’t one. The button simply turns on the reversing camera manually.

Front seat passengers get access to two 12volt power sockets and one USB port, and of course there are heated seats up front as well. With the cold snap during my time with the Kona, these felt essential. Another item that’s becoming more essential is the Qi wireless phone charger, and the N Line has one. It’s in a perfect place right up front of the console, and holds your phone well, so it doesn’t float about and go off charge. I did take the car over to Masterton during my week, and even with some ‘spirited’ driving, my cell didn’t budge.

While rear leg room has increased over the previous model (the new Kona is 40 mm longer than the old one), it’s still average for the class. Rear seat passengers don’t get any air vents, but they do have a single USB port for charging phones.

The new gen Kona features Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), which alerts the driver if someone or something is in the back seat when they prepare to exit the vehicle.

Another safety feature primarily intended for the protection of children, Safe Exit Warning (SEW) is intended to prevent passengers from exiting the vehicle if it is not yet safe to do so. If the vehicle has come to a stop, but the radar detects an oncoming vehicle from the rear, it will display a visual and audible warning to alert the passenger of the danger. SEW really works to keep you

The contents of and any opinions contained in this article do not reflect the opinions of Capricorn Society Ltd and Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness orCreliability any A P R I C Oof RN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 1 1 material in this article.

This is where a straight torque-convertor automatic wins hands-down over a DCT. Please, Hyundai, fix this transmission.

The 1.6-turbo engine is smooth, right out the 7,000 red line. It can get a bit noisy and rattly above 4,000 rpm, and unfortunately if you are wanting to make the most of the engine, it needs to be kept above 4,000 rpm. Don’t expect any crackles and pops though; the Kona N Line’s exhaust is neighbour-friendly, even in Sport mode.

In Sport mode, the car instantly gets more responsive, as you’d expect. The dash is nice and clear, a model of crispness. But it’s not active in any way, so sticking the car into Sport mode will only see the word ‘SPORT’ in red come up on the dash, and that’s it. and your passengers from opening your door into oncoming traffic.

In the back of the car, there’s some slim but usable space under the floor, on top of the spare wheel. It’s a space-saver spare, but hey – these days when lots of cars are coming out with just a pump, be thankful for that space-saver.

THE DRIVE After pairing up my phone – which took 1 minute – I headed out into traffic in the N Line. I had two first impressions: 146 kW in an SUV this size is plenty. With the weight of the car it feels like it has more power than it does. It’s peppy and will accelerate briskly at the drop of an accelerator pedal.

Think of a meerkat sitting up asking “Go now? Go now?” all the time. That’s the Hyundai Kona N Line.

In this respect, it reminds me of the Kia Soul Turbo tested way back in 2017. That car was this eager too, and while the Soul was just too much (with its 1.6-litre turbo 4-cylinder and 150 kW), the N Line is (mostly) much more drivable, probably due to its all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

I used the car in Eco mode quite a bit, but with that DCT transmission, it made the gearbox even more sluggish, so I left the drive mode in SMART instead. You can also pick Comfort mode. In Sport mode, the word SMART goes red to let you know, and changes to blue for Eco mode. In Eco mode and on the move, the transmission changes up very quickly to achieve maximum fuel economy. Admittedly, the engine has so much torque you don’t really notice it. The car does remember your drive mode, so stick it in SMART and leave it there.

As mentioned, my week with the Kona N Line included a drive over the Remutaka Hill to Masterton. Since this is the sporty version of the Kona (until the Kona N comes out, at least), this should be where the car really shines. And it does ok; thank God for AWD, otherwise I think it’d be a real handful on the twisty bits. As mentioned, that exhaust doesn’t make any childish noises (a shame) and it needs some character. It goes very well and is always ready to go, but feels a bit, I guess, bland. Still, 146 kW in a car this size is going

I said there were two first impressions, and the second one is not so good. The Kona N Line has a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and it lets the car down quite badly. On the move it’s just fine, with quick changes and nice manners.

But around town, it’s painful. It’s very slow to disengage the clutch from a stop, and it detracts from the overall smoothness of the car. The DCT rides the clutch a lot when it’s not quite ready to go, and at times it’s a bit embarrassing. For example, if someone lets you into a lane and you touch the gas pedal and then wait for the car to eventually move forward. I don’t want to go on about it too much, but it’s a major area that needs improvement.

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to help on a windy road.

Midrange power is excellent, and with that torque can really help you get quickly around any corner. With that AWD, you can get the power down to the road with very little wheelspin, even on a tight bend.

The brakes need a good shove to work, and the pedal feels like you are pushing on a piece of wood. This was both a surprise and a let-down for me. There’s very little feeling coming from the brake pedal.

Even in Sport mode the steering feel is also a bit lacking, and it’s hard to know what’s happening up front of the car. Hyundai says that the steering is fine-tuned to match the new suspension character as well as to fit the new tyres. This set-up is applied to the whole Kona range, including the Kona N Line. The only exception is the Kona N Line received specific steering tuning to match the character of the vehicle, but for me that hasn’t been successful as far as steering feel goes.

I don’t want this review to come across as too negative of the Kona N Line, as it’s a nice drive, but I was surprised that for a sporty model there’s no steering wheel paddles to change gears. On the Remutaka Hill, my fingers kept going behind the steering wheel to manually change up or down, but found nothing.

Handling-wise, the car can feel top heavy, and at times the rear end felt a bit twitchy. I wouldn’t call it bad – again AWD helps a lot here – but it can still hustle if you want it to, and in the right hands. I wouldn’t like to see someone on their restricted license having a decent go with this car. The car will grip if you keep pushing it harder around a bend, and will eventually turn into understeer.

I’m pretty sure that in the wet on a bend, you could get a nice 4-wheel drift going – if you wanted it to, of course.

When I picked up the Kona N Line, I oohed and aahed over the diff lock button, expecting this to come into play in Sport mode. However, the diff lock button (on the centre console) is only for speeds below 40 km/h, and it’s for locking the diff when needed in mud, sand, or snow. If you turn it on and go over 40 km/h, it will change into AWD automatic mode, which means basically the diff lock button is off.

Back on the Daily Drive and on the positive side of things, the ride in the Kona N Line is very good, especially for a small SUV. There’s been some changes to the new model’s suspension, with modified stabiliser bars for better ride comfort and isolation. The rear bump stop is also modified, bringing benefits for primary ride and lateral body control.

There’s sliding sun visors (which I love), and now the car comes standard with SatNav

DRIVELIFE

2021 HYUNDAI KONA N LINE

and adaptive cruise control – two things that Rob mentioned the car was missing when he reviewed the (then) top-spec Limited version. Good to see that Hyundai listens, and responds.

Adaptive cruise will bring the car to a stop, which was great to see. There’s also Lane Keep Assist but typical of Hyundai, it’s fairly aggressive, and I turned it off. Unfortunately, due to ANCAP requirements, it will turn itself back on every time you get in the car. There’s a swath of new safety features now fitted to the Kona, including active blind spot monitor (you can’t change into another lane if there’s someone there).

New to this model is Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), which alerts the driver if they do not react fast enough when the vehicle ahead of them starts moving. Another is Lane Following Assist (LFA), which automatically adjusts steering to assist the driver to keep in the centre of the lane.

Another upgraded feature is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian and newly added cyclist detection. The optional FCA uses a sensor in addition to a camera to better detect potential collisions. This increases the detection range and types of targets that can be detected and ensures the system works even in bad weather conditions.

If the system senses a potential collision and the driver fails to react in time, it automatically applies the brakes.

Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), also a first for the new Kona, works to avoid a collision when backing up, by applying the brakes if another vehicle

is detected. This is an upgrade from the previously available Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, which only provided a warning.

Here’s a list of the new safety features in this generation Kona: • Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) [NEW] • Rear Cross-Traffic CollisionAvoidance Assist [NEW] • Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with stop and go [NEW] • Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA) [NEW] • Lane Following Assist (LFA) [NEW] • Safe Exit Warning (SEW) [NEW] • Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) [NEW] • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) (now with [NEW] optional cyclist detection) Audio quality is surprisingly good, with crisp, clear audio and some nice separation. No complaints there at all. Like other Kia and Hyundai models, you also have the option of Sounds of Nature, where you can have some ambient noise coming through the speakers if you want. These include things like Busy Café, Warm Fireplace, Calm Ocean Waves, and Rainy Day. Something for the kids to play with, or fight over.

There’s also a Quiet Mode for audio, a little like Joe Mode on the Tesla Model 3. Quiet mode limits sound to the front speakers only and allows a maximum volume of 7. It might help keep those toddlers in the back seat asleep.

You will get tyre noise from those Conti Premium Contact 6 tyres on coarse chip seal. It’s not massively bad, and we’ve seen the same result from those tyres on coarse chip in other cars. Road noise is well

ECONOMY

7

INTERIOR

6

PERFORMANCE

8

SAFETY

8

STYLING

8

VALUE

6

subdued, and overall the Kona N Line is a quiet car on the Daily Drive.

I mentioned there’s no steering wheel paddles in this sporty Hyundai, and there’s also no heads-up display, which I expected at this price point. Another weird change is the replacement of the LED headlights from the Limited model to cheaper projector headlamps. Since this is the top-spec Kona right now, that seems to be a big omission.

Hyundai suggests a combined fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km. After 600 km of mixed driving conditions, I managed to get 8.2L/100km. It’s not bad but feels high for a 1.6-litre car. But keeping in mind its sporty nature and the turbo, it’s an expected result. Your mileage may vary.

THE VERDICT I’m not really sure who this car is targeted at, and I think that’s the main issue with the Kona N Line. I believe people are either going to wait for the Kona N to arrive, or save $5K and stick to the Limited version. You sure lose a lot of equipment when you move from the Limited to the N Line.

That’s not to say the 2021 Kona N Line is a bad car; it has a lot going for it and feels a lot more powerful than its 146 kW might suggest. But oh, that transmission. If I’m being honest, it drove me crazy at most intersections when all I wanted to do was move off smoothly.

If I was to give any advice here, it’d be to go and drive it. The performance of the 2021 Hyundai Kona N Line might be enough to make you want to buy one.

The contents of and any opinions contained in this article do not reflect the opinions of Capricorn Society Ltd and Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material in this article.

CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 1 3

FUTURE RIDE

SHAPESHIFTING MORPHOZ GETS LONGER, GOES FURTHER What do you do if you need to make a 700 km trip but your electric car only has a range of 400 km and there’s nowhere to charge up en route?

It’s exactly the kind of scenario people often use as a reason electric vehicles will never work in a country like Australia, with vast distances that are sometimes devoid of service stations. After all, you can’t just throw a bit of extra fuel in a jerry can and take it with you.

Or can you?

Renault has tackled the range issue in its Morphoz by giving the vehicle the ability to extend its length by 40 cm (from 4.4 m to 4.8 m) to fit in an extra 50 kWh battery.

Hence the “morph” in the car’s name: it can literally transform itself to accommodate the battery. The car gets a little bit more length, and you can get nearly twice as far.

It’s a clever solution: a shapeshifting SUV crossover. But will it ever become reality?

Well, so far this particular concept from the Morphoz concept car hasn’t made it into production. Indeed, the whole idea might even have already been surpassed by technology. Renault’s new Megane E-Tech SUV, unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in September 2021, has two charging options. The second option takes 30 minutes longer to charge, but gets you an extra 300 km. (Interestingly, the electric Megane is shorter than the Morphoz, at 4.2 m in length.)

But that doesn’t mean morphing cars aren’t on the horizon. In August Audi unveiled its (very cool) concept for an electric roadster called Skysphere. It extends its wheelbase by 25 cm (to 5.2 m) when it switches from sports to grand touring mode.

Let’s get back to the Morphoz.

Renault says Morphoz is “a 100 per cent electric adaptable crossover concept car which charges by induction even as it is

being driven”. It is connected and equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving functions.

“The driver is free to move their eyes and hands once delegation has been made,” Renault says. “(The driver) can use the car’s multimedia system to dictate emails, text messages or play multimedia content, for example.

“The vehicle can handle the distance from the vehicle in front, staying in lane even on bends, and moving in traffic jams. However, the driver must be able to take back control very quickly (a few seconds) upon request of the system. It may occur in bad weather conditions or in the absence of road markings, for example.”

So, that’s the drive, what about the bling?

“At the driver’s approach, the Morphoz runs a light sequence to show that the driver has been detected and recognised by the vehicle’s sensors,” Renault says. “A wave is all that is needed to unlock the vehicle and open its doors. Their reverse-hinged opening, combined with the absence of a B-pillar, makes it easier for passengers to get into the welcoming passenger compartment, which is illuminated by the yellow of the seat fabric and centre console.”

There’s a futuristic steering wheel with a 26 cm screen in the centre, that displays driving and safety information. Behind this steering wheel there is a surround dashboard and multimedia screen. And what’s a concept car these days without a crazy seat concept? No chaise lounge or marble magazine rack for Renault, they’ve chosen a swivelling passenger seat instead.

Then there’s the sustainability aspect. The Morphoz uses a lot of recycled materials, including wood for the dashboard, plastics for the inner doors, and fabric for the seats.

Hopefully they’ll find a way to recycle all those old jerry cans, too—because it looks like we’re not going to be needing them anymore.

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FACT BOX • • • • • • • • • • •

Length: 4.40 m (City version) / 4.80 m (Travel version) Width: 2 m Height: 1.55 m Wheelbase: 2.73 m (City version) / 2.93 m (Travel version) Engine: 1 electric traction engine Batteries: 40 kWh (City version) / 90 kWh (Travel version) Power: 100 kW (City version) / 160 kW (Travel version) Charging: Static and dynamic induction Drive wheels: Front Onboard connectivity: 5G Infrastructure connectivity: 5 GHz Wi-Fi

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ADD SOME CAR CARE TO THE

DRIVING LESSONS THESE HOLIDAYS

by Paul Marinelli

The summer school holidays for older teenagers allow many opportunities for driving lessons as they hone their motoring skills and develop more confidence behind the wheel.

The better weather generally allows for longer drives and more experience with highway driving, which is very important for young drivers to practice in both the day and the night in wet and dry weather conditions.

Something that tends to be overlooked throughout the lengthy Learner Driver period is for our newest drivers to be taught some car care and safety check fundamentals prior to taking to the road on their own.

Even though modern cars from the lowest cost economy models upwards are equipped with reliable engine and electronic system monitoring when there are potential issues, this should not detract from teaching our newest drivers the car care basics. This ensures that they have the ability to check and deal with relatively minor mechanical issues if necessary.

1 6 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

Things like regularly checking water, oil, tyre pressures (and how to refer to the optimum manufacturer specified levels) along with the correct function of all vehicle lighting. More importantly, the ability to remove and replace a flat tyre - or to refill a tyre in the case of there being no factory spare, is also a relatively easy skill that is totally neglected these days.

Sadly many of our younger drivers these days have no idea if their car even has a spare tyre! People all too often say “How long has it been since you had a flat tyre?” but even if it has been years, none of us want to see a young driver stranded due to an issue which can be so easily fixed without the need for outside assistance.

Even with roadside emergency services now being abundantly available for new and for older cars, having some background knowledge in relation to how a car operates, along with some fundamentals of the easier automotive maintenance items is never a bad thing for young drivers.

"Many new drivers have expensively become unstuck by placing the wrong fuel into a car."

Basic knowledge like this reduces panic during times of mechanical or electronic failures, enabling our newest drivers to have more of an understanding of the issues that can bring these computers on wheels to an abrupt stop.

In the case of older cars, things like checking battery terminals are clean and tight, air filters clean and air hoses tightly attached without cracks or other wear damage, ensuring the vehicle jack and wheel spanners are in the boot and all are in working order. Checking fuses should an electrical problem take place – and a major doosie for young drivers with older cars is to ensure that the spare tyre in the boot is actually full of air! This is something that is discovered far too often when it is needed the most!

Tyre pressure maintenance is important for brake and steering response and it even reduces fuel consumption and tyre wear. Teaching your child to read the tyre pressure sticker located on the inside door panel (or inside the fuel cover) to identify the optimum air pressure for the front and rear tyres and to learn how to easily do this at service stations is more than worthwhile.

Teaching new drivers that waiting too long to refuel not only runs the risk of running out, but this practice can also cause fuel filters to become blocked with all the gunk and particles that inevitably accumulate at the bottom of a fuel tank. If they are driving a diesel engined car, teaching them to use the same diesel pump at the same fuel station during their first months of driving to avoid putting in the wrong fuel is also a good tip - many new drivers have expensively become unstuck by placing the wrong fuel into a car.

Ensuring that all vehicle windows, headlights and tail lights are clean and operating correctly is also easy and important to do. Taking a look underneath the car to ensure that all is in place and there are no oil or water leaks is important, while topping up oil and water is also a very simple process.

Happy driver training and here’s to a safe summer holiday period on our roads, made safer by patient young driver training with some car care basics thrown in.

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Planning for the year ahead

by Geoff Mutton

The lifting of COVID lockdowns may have come at the right time for many businesses, but there is no denying that for most, 2021 will go down as an extremely tough year. Hopefully, the end-of-year rush might make up for some of the year’s losses.

The end of any year is such an important time for the auto repair industry, allowing owners and staff to switch off from work, catch up with family and recharge the batteries.

The end of the year is also a time of reflection on the wins and losses of the past year, and is the right time to plan for the year ahead. This planning doesn’t need to be a complex 20-page business plan. It can be as simple as sitting down for a couple of hours with pen and paper and evaluating your business.

Write down all your thoughts and ideas. If you don't write them down, they will remain just a thought, and thoughts are too easily forgotten.

Here’s a list of subjects to get you started.

Human resources

Ask yourself these questions: • What training might you and your staff need?

• Are there tasks or services that only the owner can perform?

• If business expansion or diversification is on your agenda, what training will be needed?

• Are any staff members underperforming?

1 8 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

• • • • • •

Do any staff need a pay review?

Are staffing changes needed?

Are any of your staff a flight risk and if so, what impact will that have on the business?

Do staff job agreements or job descriptions need updating?

Should team meetings take place more frequently than in the past?

Have you performed an appraisal or review with all staff in the past year?

Tools, equipment, and information • • • •

Are any new tools or equipment needed in the workshop or office?

Does anything need updating, repairing or replacing?

Do you have access to adequate technical data and information?

Should better use be made of any tool or piece of equipment?

Building and location • • • • • •

Does your office or workshop need a face lift?

Is new business signage needed?

Should a cleaning roster be established?

Do the staff lunchroom and amenities need cleaning or replacing?

Does the workshop need decluttering?

Are personal items taking up valuable space?

Marketing • • • • • • • • • •

Do you regularly contact your existing customer database?

Are your customers aware of everything you do?

Do you need to reconnect with old customers?

Are you proactively asking for online reviews?

Do you have a modern and up-to-date website that is mobile friendly?

Do you rank on Google's first page based on key terms within your area?

Is investment in some Google ads needed?

Are any of your sponsorships or advertising campaigns not working?

Does any of your branded literature need updating?

Do you need to introduce yourself to any local businesses?

•

Does your business need to be more active on social media?

Financial management • • • • • • • • •

Is a meeting with your accountant overdue, or perhaps you need a new accountant?

Do sales targets or other key performance indicators (KPIs) need to be reset?

Should KPIs be reviewed every month from now on?

Should the labour rate be increased?

Are your stock mark-ups sufficient?

Does the business need a better system for tracking and charging technician time?

Are diagnostics being properly charged out?

Do any suppliers need changing?

Are there any ongoing general expenses that are no longer needed?

Internal processes • • • • •

Is the phone system adequate and can everyone in the business answer the phone correctly?

Do any customer service concerns need addressing?

Are your technicians adequately reporting additional items that need to be brought to a customer’s attention?

Do any core processes need reviewing and updating?

Do any members of the workshop team need retraining?

SWOT Analysis List the business’s strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. Describe how you plan to address any weaknesses or threats, and how you plan to capitalise on strengths and opportunities.

The above list is intended to get you thinking about your business and excite you about the future. When you've completed it, keep it handy, preferably in a private place in your office, so it’s not easily forgotten.

Now set a monthly reminder in your diary for a list review, when you can tick the completed tasks and ideas, and select which business improvement job comes next.

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BUSINESS BUILDING

The one big thing you probably haven’t done (but really need to) What will happen to your business when you’re no longer around to run it?

What will happen to it when you retire? What happens to it if you can suddenly no longer work?

The Capricorn 2021 State of the Nation suggests not enough Members are considering these crucial questions.

Whilst 2021 saw an improvement of Members with a succession plan in place, a third of Members still have no succession plan in place and almost another 25% believe it’s too early to think about either retirement or transitioning ownership of the business to someone else.

Here’s what the study found. (Note: percentages are rounded.)

Succession Planning

Total of all workshop owners

Workshop Workshop Workshop owners aged owners aged owners aged 18 – 34 years 35 – 54 years 55+ years

Have a succession plan in place

43%

18%

35%

61%

No succession plan

32%

28%

35%

30%

It’s too soon to think about transition and retirement

25%

54%

30%

9%

It’s never too early to plan for succession Capricorn CEO of Automotive, Brad Gannon, said it’s understandable that many Members don’t have a succession plan in place, because the conversations involved — with family, business partners and employees — can be hard.

But it’s not just that the unexpected death of a business owner throws the workshop’s operation into chaos, it’s also about the efficient and productive running of the workshop today.

“Having those conversations, even if you’ve got no intention of moving on anytime soon, is a way of engaging your staff in the success of the business,” Mr Gannon said.

“Rather than just turning up and doing their job, employees think ‘I’m invested in coming in here, working hard, and making this business a success, because one day it could be mine.’

“I think more so than in many other industries it is important for workshop owners to address succession planning as soon as possible.

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“Having a succession plan in place identifies what skills are required in a workshop for the owner to take a step back.

You’re also empowering people and getting them to buy into the success of your business. Members can be far more successful by developing the right talent and keeping them engaged.”

Business after retirement

Total

AU

NZ

Put it up for sale

46%

44%

50%

Transfer ownership

27%

26%

27%

Working on the business, not in the business

Haven’t thought about it/don’t know

17%

18%

16%

Encouraging staff to learn more about all aspects of the operation and giving them greater responsibility for the success of the business also make life easier for the workshop owner, Mr Gannon said.

Close it down

8%

9%

6%

Other

2%

3%

1%

“Without a long-term succession plan in place that identifies what knowledge and skills need to be developed and maintained within the business, too much will continue to fall back on the owner,” he said.

“This puts the business at risk of being overly reliant on a few key people who may move on or are totally reliant on the owner. And it also puts the owner at risk of burnout if they feel they can never get away from the business to spend time with their family or just take some time off to reflect on how they’re going, where they’re at, make some broader plans.”

Mr Gannon said having a succession plan in place means if you ultimately need someone to take over, or take a greater load, that option is available to you.

In a promising trend, significantly more Members in 2021 are considering putting their business up for sale or transferring ownership. Members reporting, they ‘hadn’t thought about it’ dropped 5 percentage points since 2020.

Mr Gannon said Members who have succession plans in place will also benefit from the goodwill they have accrued in the business.

“I think too many of our automotive businesses have developed so much value in goodwill in their business which without a succession plan will get lost,” he said.

“If you just close your doors, you don’t pass on all your customers to anyone else, so you don’t get the true reward of all the goodwill that you’ve developed.”

How do Members think they’ll “get Is it time to think about a succession plan? out” of their businesses?

The 2021 State of the Nation report also asked Members about their future plans for their business when they were ready to retire.

Here’s what they said. (Note: numbers are rounded.)

If you don’t have a succession plan in place, it’s time to start having those important conversations. Even if retirement is decades away, there are sound business reasons to have a plan in place.

7 tips for running a financially efficient workshop

When Capricorn’s 2021 State of the Nation asked Members about the biggest challenges they face in business, 19% said they struggled with efficiency and 54% said they still measured efficiency by their capacity to pay their accounts at month-end.

So, we asked some of our team of automotive industry experts for their hacks for running an efficient business.

We particularly wanted advice to help Members run more financially efficient workshops, because 20% of Members told us financial concerns were among their biggest challenges.

Here’s what they said.

Start measuring your efficiency Workshop Whisperer Rachael Evans said when a workshop owner recognises they don’t have an efficient business, the number one thing they’re usually not doing is measuring efficiency.

“That’s where there’s this separation between blue-collar and white-collar thinking,” she said.

“There’s a distinct lack of recognition in the aftermarket of the fact that our workshops are essentially factories, and in those factories the product we’re producing is units of labour.

“If we were a Toyota factory or a Coca-Cola bottling plant, the metrics that would come out of that factory in a day would be how many units were manufactured, what time they were manufactured in, and what waste there was. But often workshop owners don’t know even if they have the ability to track that in their software.

“So, the way to start to turn that around is actually to pay attention to the things that you should be paying attention to. At any one time, I should be able to ask a business owner, what’s your shop’s proficiency today? What was it yesterday? What was it last month? And what are you tracking out for the quarter? They should be looking at those numbers so often that they don’t need to go and look at a report. They know where they’re at.”

Invest in a good management tool Good management tools aren’t just for tracking your efficiency; they’re the way to unlock that efficiency. Jeff Smit, Technical

2 2 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

Editor at The Automotive Technician, urges Members to invest in good workshop management tools.

These tools should include: • Finance and invoicing • Rosters and time sheets • Work scheduling and technician management • Inventory management • A customer booking portal • A customer database and customer relationship management • Reporting and business intelligence.

Learn how to read financial statements

your

Financial statements and financial management tools can be confusing and difficult to understand. As a business owner, you need to overcome that challenge if you want to become more efficient.

Rachael recommends talking to your accountant and getting coached through how to read financial statements and reports. It’s a skill you’ll never regret learning.

Look at your financial statements regularly Further to the above, Rachael said it’s vital to look at your financial statements regularly (and not just at the end of the month or at tax time).

Looking at your statements helps you understand your cash flow, helps you plan, and allows you to identify problems and inefficiencies early.

Only take on debt for assets that make profits

Workshop equipment is an important asset which can help improve productivity in your workshop. Make sure to consider where you are investing and including those investment costs when setting your charges. As David Fraser notes, 'Members need to reinvest in diagnostic equipment every 16 months or so, so Members need to be considering the costs for this equipment when determining their charges.'

Efficient workshops do not accrue debts that don’t have an appreciable asset attached to them. You shouldn’t be putting your jet ski through the business!

Putting purchases through the business that aren’t going to contribute to your

business profits puts unnecessary stress on the business.

If you are looking for fast and easy finance to acquire equipment to contribute to your business profits, Capricorn Finance can help. Capricorn Finance offer convenient finance options for new equipment, with repayment terms up to 60 months on finance over $2,500. * Visit capricorn.coop/finance for more information.

Friction-free access technical information

to

We know from State of the Nation that a quarter of Members struggle to get the technical information and diagnostics they require — leaving technicians Googling for answers or calling dealerships for advice.

Not having easy access to the technical information your technicians need to do their jobs is a massive opportunity for inefficiency. It can waste a lot of time.

(And it’s completely unnecessary — Members can access Capricorn Service Data for FREE. It gives you instant access to a comprehensive range of online service information covering thousands of vehicles, including manufacturers’ service schedules, service illustrations,

repair times and an estimate calculator.)

Check your progress against clear goals and benchmarks

The most efficient workshop owners are clear about their goals for their business.

They know how much money they need to make and how many customers and products need to come in and out the door each day to reach that threshold.

It’s also important to have benchmark metrics for your gross profit, net profit, effective labour rate and daily car count, to measure your progress against.

You should be able to see, at a glance, how you’re tracking in any particular week, Rachael said. Going above or being below those benchmarks may have a detrimental impact on your efficiency.

To read more about the challenges and opportunities facing automotive workshop owners across Australia and New Zealand, download your free copy of State of the Nation. *Capricorn Finance offers business equipment finance through Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313). Fees & charges, terms & conditions and lending criteria apply.

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Employing an apprentice: the information and incentives you need If you’re thinking about taking on an apprentice, congratulations!

Apprenticeships are the way most of us got our start in the industry. Taking on an apprentice of your own is an excellent way to share all your knowledge and experience, give back to the industry, and play a part in training the next generation of technicians. In fact, over 60% of Capricorn Members told our 2021 State of the Nation survey that training the next generation was the main reason they took on an apprentice.

But it’s a big commitment. It takes time, effort and dedication. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone — there’s a lot of support out there for mechanical workshop owners who employ apprentices.

In this article you’ll find links to the information you need to know in your home country or state, including information about the various incentives you can leverage to your advantage, to make taking on an apprentice even more worthwhile.

National resources for workshops taking on apprentices

Across Australia and New Zealand, governments are offering incentives to help get new talent into apprenticeships.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Government is currently offering business owners an incentive to take on apprentices, called Apprenticeship Boost, which subsidises wages for first- and second-year apprentices. It’s a response to the economic impacts of Covid-19 and is available until August 2022.

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Australia

The Australian Federal Government also offers a range of incentives to help businesses employ apprentices. A simplified and streamlined incentives program was due to be launched in mid-2021, but that was delayed by the pandemic and was expected to launch in October 2021. You can find information about the original (and now extended) incentive program and a range of other employer incentives at australianapprenticeships. gov.au.

State-by-state information for employers of apprentices

In Australia the various state governments also offer a range of support services for employers of apprentices. These include everything from helplines, to lists of available financial assistance, to all the regulatory information you need to know, to help actually finding an apprentice.

You’ll find a lot of the information you need to employ an apprentice in your state by scanning the QR codes.

Why taking on an apprentice is a great opportunity

We know from State of the Nation that finding good staff is one of the big challenges Members face. There’s a real shortage of qualified technicians out there. The apprentices of today are the qualified technicians of tomorrow. They’re our industry’s pipeline of talent. Yes, training an apprentice takes time, money and effort, but it’s an investment not just in the future of your business but in the future of our industry, too.

Taking advantage of the support and incentives on offer from your from your government should make it that little bit easier to employ a new team member.

To recognise, reward and retain the apprentices you already have, look out for Capricorn Rising Stars coming soon in February 2022.

Why not scan the QR code and begin your journey towards employing an apprentice?

6 steps to get your workshop ready for EVs

If you’re operating a business in the automotive aftermarket, you’ll no doubt have one eye on the horizon and be aware that electric vehicles (EVs) are about to be the next big thing.

You’ll also understand that while EVs might look like an ordinary car from the outside, they’re a completely different machine under the bonnet—and that’s going to mean a lot of change for you, your business, your investment decisions, and your team.

A quarter of Capricorn Members told State of the Nation 2021 the switch to electric was a top five challenge for our industry, yet only 17% said their businesses would soon be ready to service EVs. So, what does it take to get your workshop ready for EVs? Here are 6 changes and investments you can start to make now.

Get your workshop electrics sorted

EVs operate at a very high voltage—up to 650 volts (DC). That’s well in excess of a level that might be considered a hazard to your technicians. Anything above 150 volts is dangerous; an incident at 650 volts is likely to be fatal.

Clearly, having the correct electrical infrastructure—including all the appropriate safety features—is going to be critical.

You’re also going to need charging systems and specialist plugs and sockets. It’ll be worth speaking to a specialist electrician about what you’ll need.

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Investing in training is critical

A lot of technicians are the kind of people who, if they’re not quite sure how to fix something, will have to tinker about for a little while until they’ve worked out what’s gone wrong and how to solve it. That’s not possible when you’re dealing with 650 volts.

Jason Trewin, Chief Operating Officer at i-CAR Training Academy, said workshops are likely to need technicians trained to several levels of expertise. European standards, for example, have three levels: • • •

EIP: an “electrically instructed person”, who has a basic awareness of the system and can deactivate and activate it HVT: a “high-voltage technician”, who can work on electrical components, wiring, and so on HVE: a “high-voltage expert”, who can work on the internals of the battery.

“Fortunately, there are various places, including RTOs (registered training organisations) where you can get that training, but it may well be that a branded OEM will say they require you to do a certain baseline level of training,” It’s not just in handling high-voltage batteries that training’s important. There’s plenty of training for other complex systems, like blind-spot detection, emergency braking systems and even ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), that is going to be essential.

"You’re going to need things like a designated area, an isolation bay, for when a vehicle comes in"

Making space for EVs

It won’t be a surprise that EVs require a lot of specialist equipment (we’ll get to tools in a minute), but what you might not expect is just how much space that equipment is going to require.

EVs are 20% to 30% heavier than traditional cars, due mostly to the weight of the batteries. That means you’ll require special lifting equipment. You also need extra space clear around the vehicle for safety purposes and, crucially, immediate access to the outdoors in case it becomes necessary to remove the vehicle from the workshop for fire safety or due to the risk of explosion from stored electrical energy or gases.

Prepare to invest in the right tools

Unsurprisingly, there’s a raft of new tools and equipment that comes with the switch to servicing EVs. For example, you’ll need an insulation meter (a Megohmmeter) and resistance meter (a milliohmmeter) to help you diagnose faults. You’ll also need to replace a number of tools with insulated versions designed to protect the user from potential electrocution.

brands of EVs are simply going to be beyond the reach of many workshops. Hard choices may have to be made around which makes of EVs you want to specialise in.

Workshop practices and protocols must prioritise safety

The risk to technicians from EVs is far greater than from traditional cars. Trewin said safety had to be taken incredibly seriously.

“You’re going to need things like a designated area, an isolation bay, for when a vehicle comes in,” he said. “So, it comes into an area of the floor that’s colour coded and it’s got bollards around it, and signs hanging from the roof and on the windows, so everyone in the workshop knows what the car is. You just don’t go up and open the bonnet and go ‘what’s this?’ ” Creating a safe EV workshop means technicians must wear appropriate PPE, including 1000V-rated insulated gloves and insulated boots, and your workshop must have insulated matting on the floor and defibrillators installed.

Understand you may need to specialise

Currently, EV manufacturers tend to have their own ranges of tools and their own training. Tooling up, training, and paying for OEM diagnostics software subscriptions in order to service all CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 2 7

l l a g n i l l Ca

! s e Rid

If you have a story or a ride that could be published in Ignition, email it to ignition@capricorn.coop.

Ensure you include Member Ride in the subject line!

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Lamberts stocks the greatest range of friction material products, commercial brake drums and rotors in the country.

By providing direct, Lamberts has always been competitive with their pricing. Lamberts distributes parts countrywide, so Members from Kaitaia to Invercargill have access to the biggest range of brake and clutch products, including commercial and industrial.

Website: lamco.co.nz

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CAPRICORN CLASSIFIEDS Classifieds Advertising Guidelines • The Capricorn Classifieds are for Capricorn Members only to advertise. Payment is to be organised between advertiser and purchaser.

• Parts or equipment that relate to your business only may be advertised.

• Businesses for sale may be advertised.

• Cars for sale cannot be advertised.

• Classifieds are on a first come, first served basis.

• Depending on the number received, your classified may Sunshine Coast 4WD Centre is a leading 4WD specialist on the Sunshine Coast.

Four hoists, six staff, and a huge customer base. Contact 0754433601 and talk to Sharon or Tim. Living & Working in Paradise $275,000 WIWO Mechanical Workshop,Tyres and Auto Spares Shop.Established 2006. Prime location situated on the main road into Mission Beach. Large plant and equipment inventory with approximatley $160,000 worth of stock and parts. Freehold also available. Enquiries 07)40687288 or casstyres@bigpond.com Mechanical Workshop, Port Macquarie Great opportunity to take successful business to the next level. One of town’s longest serving and best located workshops – four hoists, extremely well equipped, call Maca for more info. 0414 850 365.

not appear immediately.

• No positions vacant.

• No pictures to be submitted.

• By submitting the Online Capricorn Classifieds Ad Form, you acknowledge that the price of any goods or services shown is inclusive of GST.

Auto Electrical Business For Sale Armidale Northern NSW Long lease or option to purchase strata premises. Currently two auto electricians very busy. Massive potential. $120k + stock.

Owner retiring but available for handover.

Phone Richard 0427 751 703 Auto Air Conditioning and Auto Electrical business in Central Bendigo area.

Established 30+years. High turnover, long lease available. Plant and Equipment. Owners retiring. Phone Dianne 0438020857 Jaguar/Landrover Wrecking Business for sale, in Outer Eastern Melbourne.

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All equipment inc Hoists, Forklift, Ford Ute, Shelving/Racking, Tools, Office Computers. $75,000 plus stock Ph: 0427270542

Mechanical Workshop, Melbourne VIC Est. in 1962 with current owner for 12yrs, located in Bayside, mechanical service & sales, very prominent loc. Owner retiring. Ph: 0411 460 460

Mechanical Workshop, Woodford Qld Fully equip family business servicing the community since 1995. Well established customer base, large 4 bay shed (long lease available) 3 hoists, office, amenities and wash bay. Enquiries 0408767366 or dawnevandriver@hotmail.com

Mechanical & Tyre Service. 79 Woods Street DONALD VIC 3480 Established business of 29+ years. Prominent position in centre of town, covering large rural area. Plenty of area for growth. WIWO. Building not included.

Building Leased Owner Retiring. $145,000 plus stock Phone 03 54971 202

Auto Electrical business in Northern Victoria. Well established business with large customer base. Includes service vehicle, tools, air conditioning equipment. Freehold available. $190,000 plus SAV. Contact Lee 03 5452 1813.

Mechanical Workshop For Sale, Texas QLD Established family owned business since 1976, 3 bay fully equipped workshop, 3 brand new hoists, Freehold BP Service Station, RACQ Approved Repairer, Loyal customer base, Walk in Walk Out. Mechanical, Radiator Repair and Parts Supply Business For Sale Gold Coast. Long established, RACQ Approved, Strong Client Base, High Turnover with great potential to expand. Currently managed, also fantastic opportunity for owner operator. Call Alex 0459 424 777 Automotive Workshop Eastern Suburbs Melbourne. Established business of 35+ years.

Mechanical servicing and repairs. Prominent location close to major shopping centre. 4 Hoists & equipment Expression of interest Call Russell 0417339617 Fully Equipped Mechanical Workshop For Sale Established 30+ years. Specialising in Italian cars. Thomastown location. Strong customer base. Long lease available. Phone Sandra 0417392998 Business for sale Clermont Motors Central QLD. Includes commercial and 4wd parts, truck & trailer parts, tyres, windscreens, batteries. Growth potential within the region.

1400m purpose built workshop, includes pits, hoists, 3 offices, warehouse, retail display area.

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Publisher's General Disclaimer All information, material and content contained 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, you should consider the relevance of it to your own circumstances and, if necessary, take professional advice.

Capricorn makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any material (including, without limitation, any third-party supplier advertisement in respect of which Capricorn merely acts as a 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 material in Ignition; or (ii) inaccuracy, error or omission in material in Ignition. Capricorn, Stronger With Capricorn, Ignition, Capricorn Travel, Capricorn Mutual and the boomerangs device are trademarks or registered trademarks of Capricorn. If you have any news or information that you think would be of interest to your fellow Members, please send the information to Capricorn via email ignition@capricorn.coop.

3 0 CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022

Capricorn Society Limited ACN 008 347 313 Postal Address: Locked Bag 3003, West Perth WA 6872 Registered Office New Zealand: PO Box 91567 Victoria Street West Auckland 1142 Phone 0800 401 444

N R O C I R P A C

LAST MONTH'S ANSWERS LAST MONTH'S WINNERS 1st Prize - 4,000 points AZNU Automotive 2nd Prize - 2,000 points Dores Bros Garage

Email your answers to ignition@capricorn.coop before the 25th of December. Winners will be selected by a lucky hat draw of correct entries. Please ensure you include your Member number and email address when submitting your entry.

WORD

Find the 15 words hidden in the jumble. They could be horizontal, vertical, diagonal or backwards. See if you can find them all!

DISRUPTION

CUSTOMER

AFTERMARKET

PROTOCOLS

OUTSOURCE

BENCHMARK

MAINTENANCE

GENERATION

CHRISTMAS

EVENT

DOLLAR

TRADESHOW

INCENTIVES

MANUFACTURING

LESSON

CAPRICORN IGNITION DECEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022 3 1