Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i CAR

On the one hand – firmly in nostalgia’s grip – I remember watching Lauda, Hunt, Scheckter, Villeneuve, Prost, Senna and Piquet battling it out for the F1 World Championship in cars that looked as distinct as their driving styles. As a kid, it utterly mesmerised me, and it wasn’t just beautiful cars such as Lauda’s Ferrari 312T2 and Piquet’s Brabham BT52, the scream of those V12s, V8s and 1,6-litre turbo engines, or the close racing; you really got a sense of individual personalities, too. This was a time before celebrity-obsessed digital media reported on the minutiae of an F1 driver’s life. Can you imagine James Hunt in this age of social-media scrutiny? Smartphones would melt. So, yes, part of me wishes F1 could return to those glory days. But the…

YOU have to admire McLaren Automotive’s chutzpah. For a business not yet a decade old to risk naming its latest car after Formula One legend Ayrton Senna requires huge confidence in your product. The name, bestowed upon the £750,000 (±R12,5 million) supercar, is definitive. If you give your car such a highfalutin name, it jolly well had better live up the hype: you won’t get a second chance. And, well, here it is, all unsubtle sharp edges, wings, vanes and purposeful aggression. A road-legal track car that “can be driven to the shops”, as vehicle line chief, Andy Palmer, puts it. The Senna is significant for being the first McLaren Automotive production car (500 examples to be made from the autumn; all sold) to be given a proper, emotive name,…

# 1 PORSCHE BIKE RS R165 870 Perfect for both urban environs and long tours, this RennSport bike makes use of a lightweight carbon frame and hydraulic disc brakes. # 2 MINI FOLDING BIKE R7 418 When folded, this bike measures just 650x850 mm, perfect to slot into your Cooper’s load bay. # 3 BMW CRUISE M BIKE R17 465 This Bavarian cycle boasts an aluminium bull-neck frame, a Suntour suspension fork and Continental CruiseContact tyres. # 4 MERCEDES-BENZ CAYO DISK RACING BIKE R41 455 Fit for racing, the Cayo makes use of a carbon-fibre frame and fork. It measures a lithe 7,9 kg. # 5 LAND ROVER WINDSOR R6 871 (incl. shipping) via landrover-bikes.com Inspired by the designs of classic Land Rovers, this all-purpose cycle tackles…

RENAULT MÉGANE RS 280 SPORT EDC PRICE: TBC ETA: July (October for Cup) WE ARE HERE RENAULT Sport is known to infuse humble production cars with race-bred technology, instantly transforming them into cult cars. Case in point: the previous-generation Mégane RS. Once the chips were down, the RS – especially later, more honed versions such as the record-setting 275 Trophy-R – was able to respond like few cars in the hot-hatch category. It’s with this reverence for the outgoing RS firmly in mind that I get behind the wheel of its successor in the mountainous surrounds of Jerez in Spain. Skipping both comfort and neutral drivetrain modes, I head straight for the RS button to select sport mode and turn the instrument dials to red, sharpen throttle response and set…

SUZUKI SWIFT 1,2 GA PRICE: TBC ETA: June WE ARE HERE IN 2017, Suzuki Automotive South Africa broke its monthly sales record no fewer than three times. By year’s end, the company could be proud of a whopping 57% increase in sales, selling 8 847 units (up from 5 628 units in 2016). That meant an increase in market share from 0,9% to 1,6%. But even that impressive improvement pales when compared with what the brand achieves in India. Over the past few years on the subcontinent, Suzuki has been able to lift its market share from round 30% to the high-40% mark. From 1983 – when the company sold its first car in India – to 2018, Suzuki is on track to earn an unheard-of 50% market share.…

 THE words “1960s Ferrari cabriolet” should evoke images of a twisty Italian coastal road, classic Riva speed boats on inland lakes and a glass of chilled Prosecco. A plan was made: a partial restoration allowing him to enjoy the car while retaining the 250 GT’s patina It’s unlikely, however, that the car you see here experienced too much of that. While it, of course, began its life in Italy, this 250 GT has since had an unremarkable and rather sad existence in South Africa … until a few years ago, that is. Not only was it parked outside for a couple of decades, exposed to the Highveld elements, but various bits had gone missing over the years. It was in a terrible state when the current owner acquired it; the car’s…

Price: R1 229 000 0-100 km/h: 7,77 sec Power/Torque: 298 kW/560 N.m Top speed: 210 km/h CAR fuel index: 17,28 L/100 km CO2: 343 g/km IF, in an ever-evolving automotive world, high-performance brands such as Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin place considerable value on incorporating their respective racing-honed pedigree into each new product, in the off-roading world a brand’s heritage plays the most significant role in appealing to adventure seekers. That mantra certainly applies to Nissan. While the likes of Jeep and Land Rover have each been plying their trades for just a little longer (since 1945 and 1947, respectively), hugely significant models like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol are both currently in their 67th year of production, and still going strong. Eight years into its lifecycle and…

Price: R1 238 976 0-100 km/h: 10,32 sec Power/Torque: 177 kW/500 N.m Top speed: 217 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,96 L/100 km CO2: 154 g/km FRESH from a glowing road test in the December 2017 issue (a D300 R-Dynamic HSE), the Range Rover Velar netted a podium finish in the category for Best Premium Midsize SUV/Crossover in last month’s Top 12 Best Buys awards. We’re not the only ones who appreciate Land Rover’s new boutique SUV. Buyers, likewise, adore its blend of striking, concept-car-like design and sumptuously trimmed, tech-laded cockpit; up until the end of January, 436 Velars found homes in South Africa. That’s a big number for a vehicle that’s brazenly premium priced, and which sits uncomfortably close in the JLR pecking order to the bigger, even more prestigious…

HYUNDAI Automotive South Africa is remarkably circumspect when it comes to adding new models to its assiduously arranged line-up. Seldom does the Seoul-based brand’s local distributor rush a fresh offering to market, preferring instead to closely monitor said product’s fortunes in other countries and hold back for global production volumes to ramp up. In short, it tends to hang fire for optimal conditions to import a given vehicle at a relatively competitive price. While this cautious approach has sometimes raised the ire of Hyundai’s growing local fanbase (which is still testily anticipating the third-generation i30, as well as the new, high-performance N version of this hatchback), it has generally been rather effective for the brand. But South Africa’s wait for the Creta – Hyundai’s belated ticket into the positively booming…

Few of us can remember the old 6 V systems that were used in early vehicles and, these days, are all familiar with the 12 V electrical system that is the modern standard. However, this is about to change, as automotive tech has reached the tipping point where 48 V electrical systems are set to become the new norm. One reason is that many powertrain systems have higher power requirements than a 12 V system can meet. Electrical power equals volts times amperes (P = VI) and current (ampere) dictates the thickness of the wiring. By raising the volts, power is increased while the current can stay the same. The other main reason for the change is mild-hybrid systems that involve an internal-combustion engine coupled with an integrated starter generator…

DRIVING an unroadworthy vehicle is both dangerous and illegal. According to government’s Road Traffic Report Calendar, 10% of major crashes are caused by unroadworthy vehicles and there are more than half a million vehicles on our roads that would fail a roadworthy test. Use this guide to ensure you are not the owner of one because, contrary to what some may think, your vehicle should always be roadworthy and not just when there’s a change of ownership and you require a valid roadworthy certificate. HOW IT WORKS Before you start, ensure the testing centre is accredited. A roadworthy test should last about an hour, include a short test drive and cost in the region of R500. If your vehicle passes, you are issued a certificate that is valid for 60…

NOTES The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 26 February 2018. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, the current interest rate and a 54-month repayment period with no residual at the end. Under ENGINE we list the number of cylinders and the cubic capacity in cm3 . Here, V = V-shaped engine layout; H = horizontally-opposed engine layout; The absence of an initial symbol implies an in-line engine layout. FUEL SUPPLY abbreviations are P = petrol-engined; D = diesel-engined; T = turbocharged, a compressor driven by exhaust gases; S = supercharged, a compressor driven by the engine; P/H = petrol-hybrid and E = electric. POWER…

Price: R3 220 000 Engine: 4,0-litre, flat-6, petrol Power: 383 kW Redline: 9 000 r/min Trans: 7-spd dual-clutch ETA: now FREE-BREATHING FIREPOWER At the heart of the GT3 RS sits a naturally aspirated, 4,0-litre, flat-six engine that’s 15 kW up on its predecessor. CLUBSPORT ADMISSION-FREE At no additional cost, the GT3 RS can be equipped with a Clubsport Package comprising a rollover bar, a fire extinguisher, preparation for a battery-disconnect switch and a six-point safety belt. FOR A LITTLE EXTRA The optional Weissach Package introduces further weight-reducing features, including additional carbon-fibre components for the chassis, interior and bodywork, along with magnesium wheels. With this full suite of weight-saving measures in place, the GT3 RS tips the scales at just 1 430 kg. DRESSED TO THRILL Fixed rear wing Wide-body styling…

NISSAN QASHQAI 1,2T ACENTA PRICE: R367 000 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE LAUNCHED in 2007 as a spiritual successor to the body-on-frame Terrano II and serving as Nissan’s entry into the then-still-burgeoning midsizecrossover segment, the Qashqai has been a resounding success, finding some 30 000 new owners in South Africa. Globally, it’s Nissan’s bestselling vehicle. In fact, it would appear the only stumbling block eager buyers have encountered before parting with their hard-earned rands has been how to pronounce the vehicle’s name... While the 2014 launch of the second-generation Qashqai would later that year see its design align closely with the brand-new X-Trail, the introduction of a midlife facelift distinguishes the Qashqai once more. Along with the adoption of Nissan’s latest V-Motion grille design, styling updates to the Qashqai range…

Price: R868 300 0-100 km/h: 6,32 sec Power/Torque: 195 kW/620 N.m Top speed: 240 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,44 L/100 km CO2: 162 g/km INTRODUCED globally in 1999 and in South Africa two years later, BMW’s reluctance to label its first-generation X5 an SUV was a clear indication of the Bavarian brand’s priorities. Instead, BMW tweaked the descriptor into “sport activity vehicle”, thereby melding the burgeoning call for adventure-seeking vehicles with the kind of driver-focused, dynamic ability on which this Munich-based manufacturer has built its reputation. In the decades that have followed, as the X family has evolved to include derivatives appeasing every conceivable niche, each incarnation has retained a healthy hint of athleticism. The latest of these is the third-generation (G01) X3 that we test for the first time…

Price: R969 600 0-100 km/h: 13,09 sec Power/Torque: 120 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 180 km/h CAR fuel index: 12,24 L/100 km CO2: 226 g/km IF there is a poster car out there for the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” maxim, it must surely be Toyota’s venerable Land Cruiser Prado. Known for its toughness and reliability, this J150-generation Prado has been around for nine years and has now undergone a second facelift. Yes, there are some who criticise Toyota for using older technology in certain of its products, but there is often good reason for that. Generally speaking, the Japanese automakers are a lot more mechanically cautious than European manufacturers and prefer to test and retest hardware before going into production. If it does a job, and does it…

Price: R302 200 0-100 km/h: 11,05 sec Power/Torque: 85 kW/200 N.m Top speed: 187 km/h CAR fuel index: 5,76 L/100 km CO2: 109 g/km IT’S often the case that, even before you drive a vehicle, you have a fairly good idea of how the road test will turn out. This may be based on a colleague’s feedback from said vehicle’s international launch a few months prior, or it could be because we’ve already sampled another derivative in an earlier test. Both instances apply in this case. However, life, as they say, is full of little surprises. We’ll get to that, but first a recap on what we know. This, of course, is the latest-generation Volkswagen Polo, a car which, in 1,0 TSI Comfortline manual guise, we tested in our February…

PEUGEOT 3008 1,6 THP ACTIVE AT European Car of the Year, the 3008 SUV is Peugeot’s best product. Why, then, have sales been sluggish? We have 12 months to find out IAM sitting in the driver’s seat on the first day of 365 with Peugeot’s 3008, idly playing with the touchscreen infotainment system’s functions on gridlocked roads (when isn’t there traffic in Cape Town, I hear you lament), and I can’t help but wonder why I don’t see more 3008s plying the roads of the Mother City. This type of vehicle – midsize SUV/crossover – is the perfect fodder for Cape Town’s trendy flitting between home, office, gym and beach. And the 3008 is easily one of the most stylish of the breed. Just look at it. Despite this being…

WATER has become a scarce commodity in many parts of South Africa. Evans has a coolant solution that does not use this valuable resource and outperforms the standard water and antifreeze mixture in a number of important areas. WHY GO WATERLESS? H 2  O has a high specific heat capacity, making it an obvious choice for cooling systems. That is the reason why water-based coolants have been used in the internal-combustion engine for more than 100 years. So why change now? Water in its pure form freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C. As the zero point is often reached in cold regions and the boiling point is close to the operating point of internal-combustion engines, this poses a severe risk to engine longevity if any of…

Age 45 Budget R200 000 Status parent in a family of four Vehicle type SUV/crossover that can tow a caravan Subaru Outback 2,0D CVT 0 to 100 km/h: 10,13 sec Top speed: 198 km/h Power: 110 kW Torque: 350 N.m CO2 : 168 g/km CAR fuel index: 7,8 L/100 km Aside from the permanent four-wheel-drive layout, this Subaru also offers excellent rear legroom for your growing children and comfortable seating all-round. And then there is the diesel flat-four powerplant that will save you a lot of cash at the pumps. Even though the index of 7,8 L/100 km – a figure significantly better than the other two vehicles here – is going to be tough to replicate during real-world towing, it will still be more frugal than the competition. Remember to…

Set to debut in season five, the Gen2 racecar will be used by all the teams and makes anything in Formula One look instantly archaic SEASON 4 CALENDAR Hong Kong, China 3 December 2017 Marrakesh, Morocco 3 January 2018 Santiago, Chile 3 February 2018 Mexico City 3 March 208 Punta del Este, Uruguay 17 March 2018 Rome, Italy 14 April 2018 Paris, France 28 April 2018 Berlin, Germany 19 May 2018 Zurich, Switzerland 10 June 2018 New York, USA 15 July 2018 FORMULA E GEN2 RACECAR Set to debut in season five, the Gen2 racecar will be used by all the teams and makes anything in F1 look instantly archaic. The Gen2 cars had their first tests in March, ahead of a race debut at the end of 2018. NO…

To the uniformed, the Indy 500 may look like one of motorsport’s easier races ... all you do is floor it down the straights and then turn left. Not exactly. There’s a reason this iconic American race is part of motorsport’s elusive Triple Crown along with F1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indy’s turn one is the stuff of legend. Al Unser Jr. called going into the bend at full throttle for the first time “the biggest commitment of my life”. Eddie Cheever likened the turbulence in turn one to “flying a 747 with the windows open”. Mel Kenyon, who raced in eight Indys, described it as “going 125 mph down a city street and turning into a dark alley”. The close racing, the 500-mile…

PLEASE APOLOGISE TO BMW I have a bone to pick. There’s something that constantly leaves me on the edge of my seat, shouting, blurting facts and comments at the television screen: unrealistic car chases. To the untrained eye, it is just another tyre-screeching display of oversteer and handbrake turns down an unusually quiet street but, to the trained eyes – rolling eyes, I should add – this is all nonsense. Not to generalise, but I crave the day when movie producers do their homework and come to understand what vehicles of equal performance would make a believable car chase. We have all seen it; the tricked out street racer or latest high-performance sportscar hurtling down a street or dual-carriage way, the rev counter needle frantically bouncing back and forth into…

BMW X4: Bavaria’s popular SUV/coupé has received a considerable overhaul for 2018 that includes a cosmetic restyle all-round and dimensions that see it stand 81 mm longer, 37 mm wider and a mite lower than its predecessor. The second-generation model also ushers in hard-hitting xDrive40-series petrol and diesel models that both crack 0-100 km/h in less than five seconds. All-wheel drive is offered across the board, with the M Performance models further benefiting from 20-inch light alloy wheels, M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential. MERCEDES-AMG G63: Mercedes’ new off-roading panzer has been handed over to the folks at the firm’s Affalterbach branch, which has duly slotted a 4,0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine in its nose and played with the chassis and suspension to rein in 2,5 tonnes of exuberantly…

TATA H5X CONCEPT Powered by an as-yet-unspecified diesel powerplant and touted to be the basis of a model that will set the SUV benchmark in its native market, the H5X previews the firm’s Impact 2.0 design language and some very interesting underpinnings. The concept’s Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced architecture has been developed with Jaguar Land Rover. Based on the D8 monocoque platform from which the Discovery Sport is spun, the H5X looks to marry sharp styling with genuine off-road ability. TATA 45X CONCEPT Tata’s adoption of long-winded chassis names continues unabated with the Agile Light Flexible Advanced Architecture that underpins the 45X concept. In addition to swoopy styling, the concept’s interior mimics the hull of a speedboat.…

IN the 1880s, Count Albert de Dion, a tall, card-playing sportsman and a respected member of Parisian society, developed a passion for steam engines. After seeing a model in a toy shop with a glass cylinder to show the working piston, he bought it and was inspired to trace the constructors down to a shed in Paris. The door was opened by Georges Bouton, almost the exact opposite of the Count in appearance. He was melancholy but friendly, and affirmed that he and his brother-in law, Charles Trépardoux, had indeed built the little steam engine. De Dion confessed his fascination for steam power and persuaded the two men to join him in a new venture to build full-size steam engines. Bouton agreed, but the morose and somewhat ungracious Trépardoux needed…

WITH an off-road heritage spanning 65 years, the Land Cruiser nameplate represents outstanding quality and reliability. No wonder, then, that it’s available in more countries than any other Toyota. The new Land Cruiser Prado enhances this standing with more modern exterior styling; a more sophisticated, comfortable and higher-quality interior; and improvements to its user-friendliness, on-road and -off. SO, WHAT’S NEW? The Prado range has traditionally consisted of two grades, TX and VX. For the first time, a third grade, called VX-L, has been added to the model line-up. Design-wise, the Prado features a new look that is visually more upmarket, yet which maintains three core strengths essential to the vehicle’s go-anywhere credentials: total practicality, with headlamps and cooling openings positioned to maximise protection and wading depth; total durability, with the…

AUDI A7 SPORTBACK 50 TDI QUATTRO TIPTRONIC PRICE: TBA ETA: Q3 WE ARE HERE IT was said that, when Audi design boss Walter de Silva first saw the first A5, he shed a tear for its beauty. The previous A7 probably would’ve met with a similarly dewy-eyed appreciation, and had he stuck around for the private unveiling of the new A7, there would’ve been every chance of Walter having to wave off concerned fellow designers between heaving sobs; it really is a genuinely handsome car. more visual verve to its latest offerings, albeit still within its traditional framework of sharp creases and single-frame grille, the new A7 manages to add considerable edge to its forebear’s stateliness. As hackneyed as it may sound, the A7 is one of those cars…

TOYOTA YARIS 1,5 SPORT PRICE: R286 000 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE BARELY four months in and 2018 is shaping up to be a busy one for the small-hatchback segment. The new, sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo has only just hit the market, the latest Ford Fiesta will arrive imminently and, not to be outdone, Toyota has now launched a new version of the Yaris to South African buyers. Calling it new, though, isn’t strictly correct, as this specific version of the little hatchback is already available in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Built in Thailand, it runs on a different platform and is significantly larger than the outgoing Euro-spec model to which South Africans have become accustomed. The range consists of five models and starts with the 1,5 Xi at R230…

Price: R627 900 0-100 km/h: 6,30 sec Power/Torque: 228 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 272 km/h CAR fuel index: 10,08 L/100 km CO2: 200 g/km SMOOTH mountain pass? Tick. +R mode selected? Tick. Foot flat? Tick! The Type R responds instantly by sending 228 kW through a limited-slip differential to the front wheels, where special Continental Sport Contact 6 rubber tears at the asphalt. There is little sign of torque steer or wheel spin as a set of corners is reeled in at a serious rate of knots. However, the fun truly starts with the first steering input, which highlights Honda’s newest hot hatch’s startling response and its leech-like grip on the front axle. This is undoubtedly helped by the negative camber on the front wheels (which causes noticeable wear on…

Price: R506 900 0-100 km/h: 9,87 sec Power/Torque: 132 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 196 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,48 L/100 km CO2: 140 g/km THE remnants of yesterday’s braai or pizza aside, it’s fair to say that reheated leftovers are seldom met with any degree of enthusiasm, and this is often the case with the facelifts doled out to most cars. The Kuga has recently been the recipient of just such a spot of midlife nip and tuck, leaving untouched much of the well-tuned mechanical foundations that made it a firm favourite among many. The long-term tenure with our mid-rung Kuga 1,5 EcoBoost Trend model has been a mixed bag (more of which later) and it was with this in mind that we got behind the wheel of the range-topping…

TWO pedals, or three? Historically, European (and South African) drivers embraced the manual transmission and struggled to grasp Americans’ obsession with slow, torque-converter automatic ‘boxes that robbed performance and resulted in heavy fuel consumption. Today, however, the picture is different, with the manual transmission on the automotive endangered-species list. The reason for the swing towards self-shifters is twofold: increased traffic volumes result in stop/start commuting, favouring the comfort of an auto; plus, modern self-shifters often surpass the performance and efficiency characteristics of the best manual gearboxes. However, not all transmissions are created equal. Which transmission type would suit your needs best? Read on to find out. WHY A CAR NEEDS A TRANSMISSION An internal-combustion engine (ICE) has a relatively narrow speed range, which is unsuitable to propel a vehicle from…

The legendary 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was the first production vehicle to use gasoline direct-injection engine technology. Today, it’s common in many engines as it improves fuel consumption and offers increased performance. With port injection (or carburettor) systems, the vaporisation of fuel in the air stream usually happens before the mixture reaches the combustion chamber during the intake stroke. The energy absorbed to vaporise the fuel (latent heat) cools not only the air-fuel charge, but also the surroundings. Which, in the case of port injection, are the intake runner and valve. This, however, has little combustion benefit. The advantage offered by direct-injection engines is that the petrol is injected under high pressure directly into the combustion chamber, thereby cooling it and helping to prevent knock (or auto ignition). In turn,…

LHIAUNCHED in 1955, the 403 was Peugeot’s second car launched in the years following World War Two. It enjoyed a 10-year lifecycle with an enduring design and reliable powertrain that further developed Peugeot’s solid reputation in Europe and here in South Africa. Along with the sedan, derivatives included a spacious station wagon and a cabriolet, although the estate was withdrawn in 1963 after the release of its successor, the 404 station wagon. Even after the new 404’s launch in 1962, some cautious South Africans still bought the trusted 403, unsure whether similar levels of reliability could be expected by the newcomer. Of course, as we now know, they needn’t have worried; the 404 proved to be an even hardier vehicle. Sales of the 403 finally dropped from 742 in 1965…