Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i CAR

A few years ago, I took up boxing. “Midlife crisis” was the family consensus, one usually offered with a communal rolling of eyes. Entering the ring as Steve “The Word” Smith, I had one public fight and, to be honest, I wasn’t very good. What struck me during the training was that there were two kinds of people in the rather swanky boxing gym I had joined. One bunch was there to challenge themselves and learn new skills. I was one of these guys. We didn’t really like getting hit in the face much, but hey, it’s good to push yourself from time to time. The other bunch … now, these guys didn’t mind getting hit and, more than that, they really liked hitting us. The two supercars we…

BAD DRIVING HABITS Regarding indicator lights, it would appear that they are an optional extra on BMWs, as many drivers fail to use them. My real concern, though, is about the use of lights in poor-weather conditions. There is the old principle of “sun gone, lights on”, but many drivers on our roads drive with only park lights on, or drive after dark with no lights on. There are also many cars on the road with only one headlamp working. I assume they think that, because there are street lights, they can see and thus there’s no need to use lights. The simple reason why headlamps must be switched on under poor-visibility conditions is so that other drivers on the road can see them. This is more important on darker-coloured…

POWER AND PULL The Alaskan boasts ground clearance of 230 mm and a towing capacity of up to 3 500 kg. Engine options will include 2,3- and 2,5-litre four-cylinder twinturbodiesels, each in two states of tune (118 kW and 140 kW for the former), and a 2,5-litre petrol engine. Six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions, plus two- or four-wheel drive (the latter with an electronic limited-slip differential) will be available. UPMARKET INNARDS The cabin will feature a five-inch TFT instrument display and a seven-inch touchscreen navigation, while a 360-degree camera system will also be available on top-spec models. Other extras on offer include power-adjustable (and heated) front seats and dual-zone climate control. HERE … OR THERE? Although three Renault-Nissan Alliance production sites (Mexico, Spain and Argentina) have been earmarked, Renault…

THE Bavarian firm has announced that it will launch a BMW M4 GT4 racecar in time for the 2018 motorsport season. Going on this official rendering that was released at the start of August, it looks as though the GT4 will borrow a number of cues from the M4 GTS road car that was launched last year. In fact, the entire drivetrain, including the electronics, will be lifted from that vehicle. BMW has not officially disclosed the GT4’s power figures, but to put things into perspective, the 368 kW and 600 N.m produced by the GTS’ turbocharged 3,0-litre inline-six engine will be propelling a considerably lighter car, courtesy of carbon-fibre body panels and a stripped-out interior. A more aggressive-looking front splitter, a sizeable rear wing and sports exhaust system round…

TRY to think of the most sought-after type of car out there and, while the hoi polloi might be considering supercars and ultra-luxury grand saloons, as a reader of CAR magazine, you’ll no doubt come to the conclusion that, currently, the most coveted set of wheels around are likely the plump items bolted to light/compact SUVs. These cars have all but seen off the likes of station wagons in certain markets and are increasingly popping up on the buying radars of those previously in the market for family sedans. They’re also responsible for influencing a relatively new product – the increasingly popular light/compact crossover. These hybridise the SUV traits of pseudo-tough styling, enough practicality to accommodate the active lifestyle it suggests of its owners, and the degree of usability expected…

THE sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, is the large muscle on either side of your neck. It’s mainly responsible for allowing you to turn your head from side to side, as well as both flex and lateral movements in your neck. Attached at the base of your skull and the top of your sternum, it is also the muscle most commonly associated with whiplash injuries caused by the sudden jolting of your head backwards. The trapezius, by contrast, is the large muscle located between your shoulder blades and helps keep your head upright. It can be strained by violent deceleration where your head is forced forwards. Now, imagine the neck strain associated with two days of performance testing vehicles that recorded both CAR’s fastest and second-fastest 0-100 km/h acceleration times, and that…

THE white, oval ZA sticker on the back of a car is a mark of distinction and it was time for the X-Trail to earn its badge of honour on a trip to Namibia. Fitting all the necessary family equipment, gear and bedding for a week’s stay into a vehicle can be a headache-inducing challenge, even for a Tetris champion, but at least the Nissan offers one of the largest cabins and boots in the segment. I added a Thule roof box to supplement the luggage space when it looked unlikely that I’d be able to make everything fit. As found on a previous long-distance trip to Tzaneen, the X-Trail is an accomplished cruiser and, during eight days and 4 500 km, it rarely felt tiring driving Nissan’s compact SUV.…

Let’s clear the air – this concept is not from Audi AG, but rather Russian designer Grigory Gorin. The vehicle’s full name is Audi Mesarthim (the name of an Aries star constellation) F-Tron Quattro. This bold concept is set to employ nuclear fusion as the power source in an onboard reactor that generates steam to power turbines, which then produce electricity. It has batteries mounted up front that store the electricity and an electric motor/flywheel connected to each wheel to provide motive power. As if the powertrain does not sound alien enough, the F-Tron will also feature a flat tank at the bottom that carries a magnetic fluid, the position of which can be controlled to alter the mass distribution of the vehicle while on the move. Obviously, an autonomous…

GLOW PLUG Diesel engines are of the compression-ignition type, which requires the temperature after compression in the combustion chamber to be above the ignition threshold of diesel for combustion to commence. This may be a problem during cold-start conditions and that’s where glow plugs can assist. In ambient temperatures lower than 10 degrees Celsius, the heat generated by compression in a cold engine may not be adequate to ensure an efficient and complete combustion event during startup. Glow plugs are used to heat the intake air in the combustion chamber to aid the normal combustion process. The glow plug is a metal element fitting into a direct-injection diesel engine’s combustion chamber. Current 11 V glow plugs of the positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) type are capable of reaching 1 000 degrees Celsius in…

The Civic boasts a new 1,5-litre VTEC turbopetrol that produces 127 kW and 220 N.m of torque HONDA CIVIC prices from R330 000 The all-new, 10th-generation Honda Civic Sedan is now available. The revised model sports a distinctive exterior appearance and the sleek profile is a major departure from that of the angular model it replaces. Overall length has been increased by 90 mm, while the wheelbase has grown by 30 mm and the height has been lowered by 20 mm. A selection of 16- and 17-inch wheel designs adds to the car’s sporting character. New features inside include a seven-inch LCD display that forms the centrepiece for the digital audio system. The air-conditioning system can also be operated on the display panel. This setup enables connection with numerous smartphone…

There aren’t many names in the motor industry as synonymous with service excellence as Cardinals Motor Corporation, and even more so with that of Managing Director, Bryan Berger. Since establishing the brand name in 2003, Bryan’s uncompromising approach to complete customer satisfaction has seen the company grow in leaps and bounds over the years. Built on this reputation, Cardinals Motor Corporation is now, not only the official importer and distributor in South Africa for the iconic Victory and Indian motorcycle brands, but also the official dealer for Citroën and Peugeot on the East Rand and its outlying areas. This rapid expansion also required a larger premises. They moved to their current location in January last year and have already totally renovated the premises to the highest standards and now offer…

MODEL X PLATFORM MARKS THE SPOT To best harvest the benefits of economies of scale, Tesla is likely to base its bakkie on the Model X SUV’s platform. This will utilise the Model X’s dual-motor AWD drivetrains, while providing a wheelbase (3 061 mm) commensurate with the likes of one-tonner rivals such as the Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. THE POWER OF TWO With outputs ranging from 193 kW to 375 kW per motor and 525 N.m of torque (on the basic model), the Model X motors should produce enough grunt for most pickup applications, including shouldering a 1 000 kg payload and a towing capacity more than twice that. Equalling the SUV’s 350 km operating range could be tricky, though. LOW-DRAG DOUBLE CAB With their large, bluff…

ALFRESCO LaFERRARI Limited to just 499 examples, all spoken for, of course, the LaFerrari Aperta features both a removable carbon-fibre hard top and soft top, as per the driver’s whim. Although it’s powered by the same 6,2-litre V12 and electric-motor combination that develops 708 kW and 900 N.m in the “standard” LaFerrari, Ferrari claims that “significant and extensive” modifications have been made to its chassis and aerodynamics in a bid to replicate the coupé’s structural rigidity and drag coefficient. Ferrari has yet to divulge performance figures, but they should be in a similar ballpark as the coupé’s sub-three-second 0-100 km/h sprint and 349 km/h top speed.…

NISSAN MICRA Although the line-up for this year’s show has more than just a soupçon of SUV about it, one of the more interesting departures from the crowd will be the new Nissan Micra. Having taken something of a half-hearted tilt at the compact B-segment in 2010 with its amorphous-looking fourth-generation car, Nissan looks to give it another go with a new car that’s modelled on its rakish Sway concept (pictured) and packing big-car technology and more advanced powertrains. ALFA ROMEO STELVIO Alfa’s long-awaited SUV will be underpinned by the Giulia sedan’s chassis and could spawn a Porsche Macan-rivalling halo model with the four-door QV’s 375 kW turbocharged V6 engine. SSANGYONG REXTON SsangYong will reveal a thinly veiled concept outlining the next generation of its Rexton halo SUV, which looks…

Even in a sharply contracting automotive market, Kia Motors South Africa’s head remains positive because he believes their vehicles have the styling, tech and reliability to compete with the best The market will shrink even further next year It will contract by 15 to 16% this year. We are not immune to the downturn, but Kia is holding its market share. We will see a recovery in the international market after the American elections, but 2017 will remain a tough trading environment. Will sales drop further? I think so, by 3 to 4% compared with 2016, but South Africans are very resilient and we will recover. We’ll continue to improve our vehicles When our model line-up was first introduced here 18 years ago, the vehicles came in at a lower…

BADGE engineering is a more intricate art than you might imagine. If two or more manufacturers collaborate on research and development, and get it right, the outcome is excellent products with individual personalities that draw buyers in their droves. The finest examples exist in the VW Group – think Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf – where componentry sharing also results in advanced technology spreading throughout different ranges of vehicles (the Polo, for example, adopted a large part of the Golf’s electronic architecture with its midlife facelift), and costs being kept to a minimum. Get it wrong, however, and you’re stuck with a ho-hum Ford Mondeo and a mediocre Jaguar X-Type… The Franco-Japanese Renault-Nissan Alliance is equally adept at adapting the same platforms, engines and electronics for use in various models…

AS commendable as Ford’s “One-Ford” strategy has been in expanding the brand’s global reach while cutting operating costs and simplifying manufacturing processes, it’s also shown how diverse various markets’ tastes are. While models such as the Mustang (available in right-hand drive as a result of One Ford) are guaranteed to create a stir wherever they are introduced, other, less glamorous products fare differently depending on where they are sold. Where the Fusion, for example, continues to be Ford’s bestselling passenger car in the United States, local sales since its introduction in 2015 pale in comparison with other Blue Oval offerings. This, of course, has as much to do with South Africans’ preference for hatchbacks (including the Focus) and SUVs (Kuga) as the stranglehold the likes of the BMW 3 Series…

MAY I please borrow the i3 over lunch?” “Are you taking the i3 tonight?” “Who will be using the i3 this weekend?” I’ve been bombarded with these clamouring questions since the day the i3 arrived. Never before has a long-term car been so popular for commuter duties. The fact that CAR’s offices are sited about 10 km from Cape Town’s CBD and that a lot of us head there over lunch to run errands and grab a bite, contributes to the car’s current popularity. However, there are other reasons why the team enjoys BMW’s i3. Our model is the range-extender (REx) i3, which means that, unlike the i3 we tested in the January 2015 issue, in addition to the electric powertrain, it’s equipped with a 647 cm3 petrol engine from…

CHECK your driving licence now – if you have a code B licence, you are not allowed to go big when towing... In 2000, South Africa changed to the credit card format for driving licence and the codes changed, too. Code 08 was converted to an EB licence, which entitles the bearer to tow a medium to large caravan. Individuals who passed their driving licence test after 2000, however, received a code B licence and aren’t allowed to pull a medium to large caravan. In this first part of a two-section series, we look at the legal aspects involved in towing. LICENCE CODES EXPLAINED Ignoring the tow vehicle’s mass for the moment, the following maximum trailer mass (GVM) may be towed: Light luggage trailers weigh less than 750 kg, while…

Leyland realised the sales potential of the Spitfire and bought the company TRIUMPH kicked off operations in 1902 as the Triumph Cycle Company producing motorcycles. Its first car, a 10/21, rolled off the production line in the UK in 1923. Unfortunately, the company then went bankrupt in 1940 and its buildings were bombed by the Germans during the Second World War. Coincidently, Triumph’s founder, Siegfried Bettman, was a German who moved to Coventry in 1883... After the war, the remaining assets were bought by the Standard Company to become Standard-Triumph. Realising the sales potential of the prototype Spitfire, Leyland took over in the early Sixties after the company had financial problems. Giovanni Michelotti, who did extensive work for Triumph, including on the Herald, TR4 and Stag, designed the Spitfire. Our…

Slightly more powerful and focused than a standard M3, is the CP any quicker around Killarney? 2016 BMW M3 M-DCT COMPETITION PACK 1:22,93 CURRENT FASTEST CAR 2014 MCLAREN 650S COUPÉ 1:17,90 2 2012 McLaren MP4-12C 1:19,01 3 2014 Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 1:19,50 8 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT S 1:21,90 9 2007 Audi R8 V8 manual 1:22,66 13 2015 Jaguar F-Type R AWD 1:23,17 14 2015 BMW M3 M-DCT 1:23,30 15 2012 Audi RS5 Coupé 1:23,53 16 2013 BMW M6 Gran Coupé 1:23,58 17 2014 Audi RS7 Sportback 1:23 65 IT certainly looks quicker, doesn’t it, all tweaked suspension, larger wheels and big carbon-ceramic brakes. It has the trousers to back that up, too, and under the bonnet, the engine now produces an additional 14 kW, taking the total output up to…

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” says team principal, Toto Wolff. “We operate as a team; it doesn’t matter where the drivers are from; the Mercedes board lets me get on with running the team. We have always been clear that there is an absolutely equal opportunity and equipment for both drivers. That might give me some grey hairs, but it’s worked. The decision to have two number-one drivers is never easy because you must stay neutral and always balance things out. Racing drivers are very sensitive and potential imbalances have an immediate negative impact on performance. Overall, it brings us more advantages to have two number-one drivers, because they push each other.”…

Congratulations to MERVYN KNICKELBEIN, who wins a CAT watch for writing this month’s winning letter. In keeping with CAT’s other rugged products, the PE14911122 is constructed from hardy stainless steel. The quartz movement is well sealed, as this watch is water resistant up to 100 metres, making it ideal for the outgoing type. Caterpillar is synonymous with reliability, durability and cutting-edge technology since 1904. Like CAT heavy equipment, Caterpillar timekeeping equipment is designed and built to function in today’s environment. For further information, visit www.cat.com…

NEVER one to opt for the conventional, Citroën has revealed a heavily Cactus-flavoured approach to the styling of its new C3 hatchback. In addition to the adoption of the light crossover’s bold face, complete with slivers of daytime-running lights bridged by a chevron-peaked grille, the C3 also features the Cactus’ panel-protecting Airbump technology and taillamps. In keeping with the French firm’s more boutique offerings, the C3 will be highly customisable in terms of exterior colours and trim. Further Cactus cues are evident in the cabin, with the majority of the facia buttons grouped around a console-mounted, seven-inch touchscreen. Interestingly, the newcomer will feature what Citroën calls “ConnectedCam”, a forward-facing, GPS-enabled camera positioned on the rear-view mirror that effectively functions as a dash cam. Engine options will include the brand’s existing…

ASTON MISSILE Co-developed by Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing, the AM-RB 001 hypercar has, according to Aston, been “engineered to be entirely useable and enjoyable as a road car, but with the capability to perform like no road car before it on a racetrack”. Standing just 38 inches (965 mm) high, built around a carbon-fibre structure that contributes to a 1 000 kg kerb weight and fitted with a naturally aspirated V12 engine developing around 670 kW, the performance is reportedly in line with that of today’s LMP1 Le Mans sports prototypes. In addition to an all-new transmission system and Red Bull Advanced Technologies-developed suspension, the AM-RB 001 will also employ radical aerodynamics that develop what the manufacturer describes as “unprecedented levels of downforce in a road-legal car”. Total…

THIS UNASSUMING BUILDING PLAYS HOME TO VOLVO'S LARGEST MUSEUM BY South African standards, it’s cold … very cold. But the locals flitting between the buildings of this industrial estate are dressed as though it’s the middle of spring because, in Sweden, it is. I, however, am so preoccupied with keeping warm that I walk past the door of the Volvo Museum and, were it not for my hosts’ shouts, I may still be lost within this complex that houses the most comprehensive collection of Volvos anywhere in the world. Fortunately, once inside, both the air and the typically Swedish greeting are warm and welcoming. This unassuming building on the outskirts of Gothenburg, just a few kilometres from the city centre, plays home to Volvo’s largest museum and you can access…

Price: R185 500 0-100 km/h: 14,86 sec Power/Torque: 55 kW/95 N.m Top speed: 167 km/h CAR fuel index: 5,52 L/100 km CO2: 108 g/km VOLKSWAGEN’s Up! is a firm favourite of the CAR team, consistently scoring high overall marks whenever we test one. Not only did a five-door variant comprehensively see off a challenge from the more expensive Smart ForFour in a recent comparison test (July 2016), but the three-door Move model is our reigning choice for budget car in the annual Top 12 Best Buys awards. This modern Beetle, if you will, is chock-full of character, partially thanks to its quirky looks, but mostly because of the way it drives. And earlier this year, Volkswagen South Africa increased the size of the Up! range by adding five-door models to…

HYBRIDS have become a staple in CAR’s fleet, but the Honda CR-Z aside, they’ve always been subtle spin-offs of petrol-driven models, distinguishable only by a badge here and there. Not so the latest Prius. About as purpose-built a hybrid as you can get, its odd proportions and riot of sheet-metal cuts and creases form a divisively styled, but seriously aerodynamic (it has a drag coefficient of just 0,24) vessel for a car that’s more upmarket, rides better and is more cleverly packaged than the one it replaces. Perceived quality is a leap over that of its forerunner, whose space-age facia was hewn from recycled but rattly plastics. But it’s the car’s platform (it’s the first Toyota underpinned by the firm’s new modular platform) that’s the real star. Not only does…

OIL REDUCES FRICTION BETWEEN PARTS, MINIMISING WEAR ON MOVING COMPONENTS OIL is the only barrier preventing contact between the moving metal parts inside your car’s engine. It is much more than just a lubricant, though, and this viscous fluid has evolved in order to stay abreast with the technical advancements in modern internal-combustion engines. We spoke to Castrol’s Rob Bowen, technology manager: Africa, to get a better understanding of engine oil in general and what you should consider when choosing a product. WHY AN ENGINE NEEDS OIL Oil reduces friction between the moving parts, which has the effect of decreasing heat generation, lowering noise levels and, most importantly, minimising wear of the moving components. An engine’s life span is directly linked to the wear rate and deterioration can occur through…

Ages 35 to 45 Budget R275 000 Status couple with two kids Vehicle type compact SUV REQUIREMENTS As parents of two toddlers, our couple’s hatchback needs to be swapped for something more spacious. They would prefer a petrol engine because of the higher maintenance costs associated with a diesel. It needs to be a family taxi for many years to come. THE VEHICLE A compact SUV with front-wheel drive is the obvious and popular choice. They won’t do serious off-roading and this type of vehicle generally offers more interior space than conventional hatchbacks and compact-executive sedans. OUR CHOICE Honda CR-V 2,0 Comfort 0-100 km/h: 10,51 sec Top speed: 190 km/h Power: 114 kW Torque: 192 N.m CO2 : 172 g/km CAR fuel index: 8,64 L/100 km WE’VE been consistently impressed with…

                       NOTES The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 29 July 2016. 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.…

THE BT55 was a disaster. Designed and built for the 1986 F1 season, it cost the team a massive-for-then £6,8 million and delivered points only twice when Ricardo Patrese managed two sixth places. Besides that, though, the BT55 was revolutionary. As is so often the case, it was a car ahead of its time – the concept would later be widely adopted – but in this first instance was poorly executed. The basic principle was that uninterrupted airflow over the rear wing would provide greater downforce, thereby increasing the grip. And in this era of 1 200+ bhp four-cylinder engines, rear-wheel grip was rather important. To get more air over the wing, designer Gordon Murray had to move the driver and the engine out of the way, which he did…