Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2019 i CAR

Avid CAR readers will know detailed technical information has formed the backbone of this publication for more than six decades. The person responsible for ensuring all the befuddling tech hidden away in your pride and joy is explained in layperson’s terms is the CAR technical editor. This month, we say farewell to Nicol Louw, who has held the position for eight years. Thanks to Nicol, our readers (and new members of the CAR team) understand how power and torque work; why LEDs are better than halogens; and why we should be cheerful about the future of the automobile as the motoring industry makes a seismic shift to electrification. I have some good news, though. While Nicol will take up a position at a local armoured-vehicle firm, he’ll stay on as…

Reader BADR KAZI wins a 12-month subscription to CAR magazine, SA’s leading motoring title, for his emotive letter. FOUR GREAT ADVANTAGES OF A CAR SUBSCRIPTION: 1. Stay current by never missing an issue of your favourite magazine. 2. A free digital subscription is included. 3. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery. 4. You get the magazine before it goes on sale. (A subscriber already? Extend yours by a further 12 months, or give it to a friend or relative.)…

That mystical, metal roller door… Even after spending eight years at CAR, I still got a thrill when the rackety door lifted and revealed its shiny automotive content. For a passionate automotive fan with petrol, diesel and electricity gushing through their veins, this was close to heaven. Each specimen was beautifully crafted, sparkling and ready to impress the fastidious team of journalists at CAR. Each vehicle that arrives at CAR for testing represents years of research and development, thousands of kilometres of testing in pre-production form, sign-off to start production and finally the journey to the CAR garage from its place of birth, often on the other side of the world. I know this because I was part of a few international engineering teams in previous jobs. Imagine the monumental…

Price: TBC Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbopetrol Trans: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 169 kW @ 5 000-6 200 r/min Torque: 350 N.m @ 1 500-4 300 r/min 0-100 km/h: 6,5 seconds* Top speed: 233 km/h* Fuel cons: 7,3 L/100 km* CO2 : 166 g/km Rivals: BMW X2; Jaguar E-Pace + striking design; capable chassis - detuned models destined for SA The reveal of the Audi Q3 Sportback back in July wasn’t entirely unexpected, since many automakers are diversifying their crossover and SUV ranges by adding coupé-styled offerings. So, why didn’t the Ingolstadt-based firm stick with current convention and plaster the Q4 badge to its rear? Well, this moniker has already been reserved for an electric model scheduled to go into production by the end of 2020. Instead, Audi opted to hand the Q3…

PEUGEOT 108 1,0 ACTIVE MT PEUGEOT 5008 1,6 THP GT-LINE AT CAR: South Africans have a long-held scepticism regarding French car ownership. How will you look to change that perception? Xavier Gobille: We’ve had to be very tough on ourselves and admit to a number of legacy issues around the standards of our dealership and aftermarket service. So, a sweeping change that’s restructured our dealership network and complete retraining in technical and customer services disciplines will ensure peace of mind for both owners and prospective buyers. Buyers often worry about costs associated with French cars. How will Peugeot Citroën address this? The core of our ownership experience is the standard five-year/100 000 km warranty and service plan across the entire Peugeot range. We also promise that, if a required part…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, transverse Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 74,5/80,0 mm Cubic capacity: 1 395 cm3 Compression ratio: 10,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 110 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 000-6 000/ 6 250 r/min Max torque: 250 N.m Torque peak: 1 500-3 500 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: six-speed dual-clutch 1st gear/2nd gear: 3,46/2,05 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,30/0,90 to 1 5th gear/Top gear: 0,91/0,77 to 1 Reverse gear: 2,54 to 1 Final drive (1/2): 4,80/3,60 to 1 Drive wheels: front Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 312 mm ventilated discs Rear: 300 mm solid discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, transverse Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 72,2/81,4 mm Cubic capacity: 1 332 cm3 Compression ratio : 10,6 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 120 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 500-6 000/6 000 r/min Max torque: 250 N.m Torque peak: 1 640-4 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: seven-speed dual-clutch 1st gear/2nd gear: 6,60/3,92 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,24/1,64 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,27/1,01 to 1 Top gear: 0,81 to 1 Reverse gear: 1,24 to 1 Final drive: 2,82 to 1 Drive wheels: front Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 305 mm ventilated discs Rear: 276 mm solid discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make:…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, transverse Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 73,0/82,0 mm Cubic capacity: 1 373 cm3 Compression ratio: 9,9 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 103 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 500/6 000 r/min Max torque: 220 N.m Torque peak: 1 500-4 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: six-speed manual 1st gear/2nd gear: 3,61/1,95 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,27/0,94 to 1 5th gear/Top gear: 0,79/0,67 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,48 to 1 Final drive: 4,31 to 1 Drive wheels: front Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 280 mm ventilated discs Rear: 259 mm solid discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 Tyre size: 215/55 R17…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: six, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 83,0/92,4 mm Cubic capacity: 2 999 cm3 Compression ratio: 10,5 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 320 kW Power peak/Red line: 6 100/6 500 r/min Max torque: 520 N.m Torque peak: 1 800-5 800 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: nine-speed automatic 1st gear /2nd gear: 5,35/3,24 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,25/1,64 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,21/1,00 to 1 7th gear/8th gear: 0,86/0,72 to 1 Top gear: 0,60 to 1 Reverse gear: 4,80 to 1 Final drive: 3,06 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 390 mm ventilated discs Rear: 360 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA…

CVT OIL-CHANGE INTERVAL I drive a 2015 Corolla 1,8 with 35 000 km on the odo. Does the continuously variable transmission (CVT) need its oil changed and, if so, at what mileage? The local dealership is unsure and I hope CAR can get an official answer from Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM). KESHANDRA SOORUTH Via email We trust you enjoyed the comprehensive technical article “Automatic problematic” in the August 2019 issue. In general, CVTs are particularly sensitive to the quality of oil and we posed your question to Riaan Esterhuysen, manager of product communications and marketing fleet at TSAM, who gave us the following reply: “As per the Toyota Motor Corporation Oasis (the maintenance schedule website), we inspect the transmission oil every 45 000 km or 36 months and, if…

Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel were left in no doubt about Charles Leclerc’s strength of character during the second race of the season in Bahrain. Despite his schoolboy looks and novice status, the 21-year-old Monegasque sent a subliminal message that politely but resolutely said he was not going to stand on ceremony. Having joined Ferrari after an impressive debut season with Sauber-Alfa Romeo, Leclerc was expected to deliver eventually but only when the time was considered right. Just two races into the season, Leclerc had taken his first pole position, 0,3 seconds faster than Vettel, a four-time world champion. Vettel appeared to have restored the status quo within Ferrari when he jumped into the lead with a blistering start while Leclerc dropped to third behind Valtteri Bottas before passing the Mercedes…

OVER TO YOU... Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. AUTOMOTIVE AMBITION Years ago, I dreamt of becoming an automotive engineer once I leave university abroad. Today, I still will not let go of my dream and my passion and love for cars and how they function. It all started back in March 2014. At the time, my resources were limited. One evening, I went to Spar and I picked up my very first CAR magazine, “South Africa’s leading motoring magazine”. I was (and still am) impressed with this slogan. I immediately…

Essentially Mercedes-Benz’s take on an electric S-Class for the future, the Vision EQS Concept utilises a pair of electric motors for the front and rear axles, with a battery integrated into the floor between them. This powertrain serves up a healthy 350 kW and 760 N.m, while the claimed operating range in optimal conditions is around 700 km and the battery array can be charged to 80% capacity in as little as 20 minutes. But as impressive as that powerplant may be, it’s the aesthetics which really steal the show. At either end of that swooping profile sits one of the most impressive lighting systems on a car to date (if you discount the Audi AI:TRAIL’s silly drone method). The front plays host to 188 individual LEDs flanked by streamlined…

1971 BUICK RIVIERA This American saloon was fitted with MaxTrac, a system which cut the engine’s output when it detected wheelspin via a “miniature transistorised computer”. 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 Employing ESC supplied by Bosch, the two-door S-Class became the first of its kind, transporting occupants in luxury and improved safety. 1997 AUDI A6/A8 QUATTRO ESC made its debut on four-wheel-drive cars when the Ingolstadt automaker introduced it on its A6 (pictured) and A8 Quattro models. 2016 MERCEDES-AMG GT R The halo AMG GT features a yellow dash-mounted dial which allows drivers to choose their desired level of traction.…

The 12th running of the Singapore GP gave an insight to the current state of F1. And it didn’t look good. As Ferrari celebrated an unexpected one-two, Mercedes’ engineers and drivers were already in deep discussion about how they not only managed to lose this one, but also failed to finish on the podium. The one word uniting these rivals was “strategy”. The result had nothing to do with racing as we know it; or would wish to see it played out at the so-called pinnacle of motorsport. Not even Ferrari was happy, despite this having been its third win in a row (for the first time since 2008) on three vastly different circuits (Spa, Monza and Marina Bay). Sebastian Vettel looked uncomfortable even though this represented his first win…

The person responsible for penning the design of the new Audi Q3 Sport-back is 33-year-old Seulah Park from South Korea. Having some experience working on the Audi TT facelift programme, this car was her first major project. Seulah explained the changes she made to the Q3 design were intended to incorporate a sense of style and athleticism by delivering a sleek silhouette with muscular details. By lowering and widening certain lines, she was able to create a hunkered-down stance without infringing on the car’s crossover characteristics. Answering the question of why the Q3 Sportback doesn’t incorporate the Q8’s full-width taillamp arrangement, Seulah said that, although certain elements of the design resemble that of the Q8, the new vehicle needed to be both identifiable as a Q3 and recognisable as a…

Price: R599 000 0-100 km/h: 9,59 seconds Top speed: 204 km/h Power: 110 kW Torque: 250 N.m CAR fuel index: 7,08 L/100 km CO2 : 134 g/km Launched in 2011, the first-generation Audi Q3 was an instant hit right when the market went crossover crazy. Often outselling its A1, A3 and A4 cousins in global markets, Audi’s boutique midsize SUV offered an impressive blend of practicality, style and tactility. In our first test of a Q3, we went as far as questioning whether there was any need for consumers to upgrade to the larger Q5 when the smaller vehicle did so many things so well. Fast-forward eight years and, buoyed by a midsize crossover market that’s ballooned to the most important and profitable one for manufacturers to partake in, Audi’s launched…

Mercedes-AMG C63 S Speedshift-MCT 9G We may not see its like again but the C63’s ability to challenge its driver by measuredly diluting the electronics that often impede the fun make it a memorable beast.  price: R1 560 136 cyl/capac: V8/3 982 cm3 power: 375 kW/5 500-6 250 r/min torque: 700 N.m/2 000-4 500 r/min gears/drive: 9/R 0-100 km/h: 4,22 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 11,88 L/100 km luggage capac: 312 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Alfa Romeo Giulia QV Svelte, devastatingly quick and entertaining to drive, the Giulia QV simply oozes charisma. So-so build quality and resale value perpetual concerns, though.  price: R1 426 000 cyl/capac: V6/2 891 cm3 power: 375 kW/6 500 r/min torque: 600 N.m/2 500-5 500 r/min gears/drive: 8/R 0-100 km/h: 4,15 sec…

1 BMW 330d Steptronic Wins more by default than anything else. Brilliantly rounded and great value in this company, but feels ever so slightly plain and old-fashioned in the i3’s company. price: R739 063 cyl/capac: 6/2 993 cm3 power: 195 kW/4 000 r/min torque: 580 N.m/1 750-2 750 r/min gears/drive: 8/R 0-100 km/h: 5,50 sec est top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 6,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 368/1 144 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km 2 BMW i3 120 Ah REx Compact dimensions, instant electric response and clear visibility render the i3 a near-flawless commuter. Judged on how much car you get for your money, though, its argument dims. price: R740 700 cyl/capac: electric motor power: 125 kW/4 800 r/min torque: 250 N.m/0-4 800 r/min gears/drive: 1/R 0-100 km/h: 8,15…

1 Audi A5 Cabriolet 45 TFSI Sport Quattro S tronic Superior build quality, punchy and refined engine and Quattro all-wheel-drive put Ingolstadt’s cabriolet at the top. But does it lack the character of the Ford? price: R871 500 cyl/capac: 4/1 984 cm3 power: 185 kW/5 000-6 000 r/min torque: 370 N.m/1 600-4 500 r/min gears/drive: 7/4 0-100 km/h: 6,30 sec est top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 7,92 L/100 km luggage capac: 380 L est serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km 2 Mercedes-Benz C200 Cabriolet 9G-tronic Closer to the Ford’s power level, unfortunately the C300 is priced well above the Mustang. The sleek C200, although lacking in punch, offers higher levels of sophistication. price: R836 695 cyl/capac: 4/1 497 cm3 power: 135 kW/5 800-6 100 r/min torque: 280 N.m/3 000-4 000…

NOISY MOGGIE Alice McQueen lives on the farm Ystervarkfontein with her husband Simon and their children. They grow all sorts of veggies and also have a few classic cars. Her pride and joy is a 1956 Morgan 4/4 Series II which is used mainly on one or two long-distance classic car events a year. The car is pretty in a vintage sort of way but its performance is dismal compared to the much lighter three-wheelers produced by Morgan before World War Two. It is fitted with the unexciting Ford 1 172 cm3 side-valve engine which powered the post-war small Fords. Alice named her car Moggie and it didn’t take Simon long to call his wife Moggie, too. They enjoyed their private joke, knowing that in some parts of England, a…

The poignancy attached to Charles Leclerc’s first F1 win could not be overstated. Given the near misses in Bahrain and Austria, victory in the Belgian Grand Prix had been on the cards and was no big surprise. But for it to happen just 24 hours after the death of Anthoine Hubert brought desperately conflicting emotions for the Ferrari driver and everyone watching. This was a moment any young racing driver would wish to cherish and yet Leclerc will forever link it with the terrible loss of his friend in a Formula 2 race the previous day. They had raced together in karting; part of a gang which included Pierre Gasly. Those who knew Hubert say it was not a cliché to claim the Frenchman was one of the most likeable…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 20 September 2019. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. • The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, current prime interest rate and a 60-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…

There might be a 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT parked in the garage but the rest are predominantly Minis. This first garage holds most of Leon Daniels’ restored Minis as well as one which needs only the rubbers to be fitted. Highlights include Coopers and a friend’s racecar (Stuart Greig’s from Miniformance). It is Stuart who assists Leon with maintenance and restorations, a job that keeps him on his toes. I walk through the second building and, apart from Leon’s obsession with collecting wheels, there is a plethora of engines and even two tractors, the latter originally fitted with Mini engines. It is a shed full of projects that will probably take a lifetime to restore but that doesn’t matter. It is an ongoing hobby which he thoroughly enjoys…

Volvo XC40 T3 R-Design Geartronic Even better equipped than the Audi, and offering a softer ride and sleeker, more timeless design, the XC40 continues to wow. It’s slower, though, and not as frugal as the German.  price: R597 350 cyl/capac: 3/1 477 cm3 power: 115 kW/5 000 r/min torque: 265 N.m/1 850-3 850 r/min gears/drive: 8/F 0-100 km/h: 10,1 sec est top speed: 195 km/h fuel index: 8,0 L/100 km luggage capac: 320/1 168 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Audi Q3 35 TFSI S line S tronic Improves on its predecessor in nearly every measurable way, but some drivetrain quirks and a firmer ride than we’d like on this sport-suspended S line variant are small criticisms.  price: R599 000 cyl/capac: 4/1 395 cm3 power: 110 kW/5 000-6 000 r/min…

Audi Q3 35 TFSI S tronic With a class-leading interior and impressive packaging, the all-new Q3 offers a similarly raised driving position as the B-Class, as well as the flexibility of coping with a modest level of gravel adventure.  price: R565 000 cyl/capac: 4/1 395 cm3 power: 110 kW/5 000-6 000 r/min torque: 250 N.m/1 500-3 500 r/min gears/drive: 6/F 0-100 km/h: 9,59 sec top speed: 204 km/h fuel index: 7,08 L/100 km luggage capac: 320/1 096 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Mercedes-Benz B200 7G-DCT The fit and finish of an A-Class in an arguably more usable package. Real-world benefit of the B is, however, limited to a raised ride height and the option of a more versatile luggage compartment.  price: R526 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 332 cm3 power: 120…

Nissan Qashqai 1,2T Acenta The Qashqai offers impressive build quality and clever packaging. Well-priced 1,2T Acenta with a manual transmission is our pick of the range.  price: R389 800 cyl/capac: 4/1 197cm3 power: 85 kW/4 500 r/min torque: 190 N.m/2 000 r/min gears/drive: 6/F 0-100 km/h: 10,91 sec top speed: 185 km/h fuel index: 7,40 L/100 km luggage capac: 272/952 L serv/maint plan: S3/90 000 km Peugeot 3008 1,2T Active Well-appointed cabin feels substantial. Three-cylinder turbopetrol is a strong performer with impressive levels of efficiency. Resale is a concern, though.  price: R388 900 cyl/capac: 3/1 199 cm3 power: 96 kW/5 500 r/min torque: 230 N.m/1 750 r/min gears/drive: 6/F 0-100 km/h: 10,60 sec est top speed: 188 km/h fuel index: 6,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 312/1 024 L serv/maint plan:…

Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet 4Matic+ 9G-tronic A wonderfully balanced long-distance tourer with just enough thrust from that gem of a straight-six to entertain. A more mature take on the AMG›ethos.  price: R1 441 226 cyl/capac: 6/2 999 cm3 power: 320 kW/6 100 r/min torque: 520 N.m/1 800-5 800 r/min gears/drive: 9/4 0-100 km/h: 5,09 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 10,44 L/100 km luggage capac: 216/680 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km BMW M4 Convertible M-DCT Despite its age, the niche nature of this segment means the M4 Convertible remains a solid choice that serves up better handling but not much visual pizzazz. price: R1 495 700 cyl/capac: 6/2 979 cm3 power: 317 kW/5 500-7 300 r/min torque: 550 N.m/1 850-5 500 r/min gears/drive: 7/R 0-100 km/h: 4,40 sec est…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: V8, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 83,0/92,0 mm Cubic capacity: 3 982 cm3 Compression ratio: 10,5 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 375 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 500-6 250/ 7 000 r/min Max torque: 700 N.m Torque peak: 2 000-4 500 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: nine-speed automatic 1st gear/2nd gear: 5,35/3,24 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,25/1,64 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,21/1,00 to 1 7th gear/8th gear: 0,87/0,72 to 1 Top gear: 0,60 to 1 Reverse gear: 4,79 to 1 Final drive: 2,82 to 1 Drive wheels: rear Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 390 mm ventilated discs Rear: 360 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA…

SPECIFICATIONS ELECTRIC MOTOR AND TRACTION BATTERY Electric motor type: synchronous Battery type: lithium-ion Overall voltage: 352 V ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTPUT Max power ISO: 125 kW Power peak/red line: 4 800/11 400 r/min Max torque: 250 N.m Torque peak: 0-4 800 r/min RANGE EXTENDER Engine: 2-cylinder, petrol Cubic capacity: 647 cm3 Max power: 25 kW @ 4 300 r/min Fuel tank: 9,0 L TRANSMISSION Type: single speed Reduction/reverse gear: 9,71 to 1 Drive wheels: rear Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 280 mm ventilated discs Rear: 280 mm solid discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Bridgestone Ecopia EP500 Tyre size: 155/60 R20 (f); 175/55 R20 (r) Spare – type and location: none, mobility kit STEERING Type: rack and pinion, electric power…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 87,5/94,0 mm Cubic capacity: 2 261 cm3 Compression ratio: 9,5 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 213 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 400/6 500 r/min Max torque: 441 N.m Torque peak: 3 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: 10-speed automatic 1st gear/2nd gear: 4,70/2,99 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,15/1,77 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,52/1,28 to 1 7th gear/8th gear: 1,00/0,85 to 1 9th gear/10th gear: 0,69/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 4,87 to 1 Final drive: 3,55 to 1 Drive wheels: rear Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control) with traction control, hill start BRAKES Front: 352 mm ventilated discs Rear: 330 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD…

Brexit is not the only intriguing dilemma facing the United Kingdom. There is also the small matter of fines when your car’s sound emissions exceed the legal limit. The UK’s department for transport is currently testing a camera which measures the sound levels of passing vehicles. It aims to send the owner of a boisterous vehicle a ticket in the post. Apparently, the tuner fraternity on cars and some motorcycles are guilty of severe noise pollution and the subjective judgement by traffic cops is not scientific. If ever introduced locally, we’re sure in certain parts of South Africa, the sound fines will outnumber speeding infringements. THE DEMISE OF THE EXHAUST PIPE With the electric-vehicle era imminent, exhaust pipes, together with internal-combustion engines, are set to disappear from new vehicles. Interestingly,…

WARRANTY, MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE PLANS? Could you please explain the difference between service and maintenance plans? As far as I understand, the warranty covers mechanical breakage and so does a maintenance plan. If a vehicle has a maintenance plan, why bother with the warranty? What brought this into question was the comparative test between the Audi S3 Sedan and the BMW M140i. They both have a five-year maintenance plan (but two-year warranties). We agree the terms can be confusing and will try and explain the difference in general. Remember that, whatever the type of plan, it remains essentially a contract between the manufacturer and buyer and the devil is in the detail. Therefore, it is critically important to read the full contract and small print to understand what is covered…

There had been emotional circumstances attached to other key moments in Leclerc’s career. A brilliant win with his F2 car on the streets of Monaco in 2017 had come only days after his ex-racer father Hervé died following a long illness. On the slowing down lap, Leclerc was moved to tears for the first time in a racing car. This had come after the loss of Jules Bianchi in July 2015 following an ultimately fatal accident during the Japanese Grand Prix nine months before. The drivers’ fathers were friends and Jules had done much to encourage Charles in his early career. These two personal tragedies went some way to strengthen Leclerc’s resolve. “My first visit to Maranello was when I went there with Jules,’’ recalls Leclerc. “We had to go…

One of the most beautiful shapes ever designed for an everyday saloon is the XJ6. I know other Jaguars are more sought-after cars but this is what I would like to cruise around in if I had an adequate supply of petrol. It’s also a lot less ostentatious than another stately British saloon of the time, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. As far as generations of XJ6 go, I would prefer a Series 1, with either a 2,8- or 4,2-litre under the bonnet sitting atop the larger grille. Later Series 2 and 3 versions couldn’t improve on the styling … one of the inherent problems with a stunning design is how to replace it. Think, too, of the E-Type that was replaced with the XJ-S. It didn’t work and, after decades,…