Innehållsförteckning för April 2017 från CAR

The hamper includes Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax, Ultimate Liquid Wax, Ultimate Protectant, Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish and Quik Detailer. Meguiar’s is a global leader in premium car care and this is epitomised in its flagship “Ultimate” range, which incorporates cutting-edge, high-tech formulations to deliver a deeper, longer-lasting shine and extreme protection, together with easier application than ever before. For more info, visit www.meguiars.co.za, email customercare@meguiars.co.za or join up with Meguiar’s on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MeguiarsSA/l.…

ON BEHALF OF all of us here at CAR magazine, thank you for the many calls, emails, letters, tweets and posts of congratulations we received on our 60th birthday. We could include only a few here, but the sentiments expressed brought home just how much this great magazine has meant to so many people over the last six decades. It’s a privilege for the team and I to carry on this legacy. Thank you all for your support and, as ever, we will continue the mandate set by John Pattinson Knight, CAR’s very first editor: the interests of our readers and editorial integrity come before all else.…

It’s taken six years for Pagani to lop the top off its outrageous Huayra and it appears that the time has been spent making the Roadster even lighter and more formidable than its coupé stablemate. Extensive use of aluminium alloys and a carbon-titanium composite called Carbo-Triax HP52 renders the Roadster 80 kg lighter and, surprisingly, 52% stiffer than the coupé. Power comes from a tuned Mercedes-AMG 6,0-litre V12 biturbo engine developing 562 kW and more than 1 000 N.m. This considerable oomph is managed by a seven-speed transmission developed for the Huayra BC and built by X-Trac. Pagani hasn’t released performance figures yet, but it’s safe to assume they will eclipse those of the coupé. PAGANI HUAYRA ROADSTER ENGINE 6,5-litre, biturbo V12 POWER 562 kW TORQUE >1 000 N.m 0-100…

REGULAR readers of this column will be familiar with my pervading sense of exasperation over the way Formula One is run, particularly in recent years as everyone – Bernie Ecclestone, the teams, the sports governing body (FIA) – followed their own agenda. Fear not, though; help appears to be at hand. That is the overriding impression I had following a chat with Ross Brawn, recently appointed managing director of F1 for the sport’s new owners, Liberty Media Corporation. Brawn will be one of three people replacing Bernie Ecclestone, a fact that reveals a great deal about the former dictator’s restrictive methods. But the key element of Brawn’s important role is that he is a fully qualified poacher turned gamekeeper. Brawn has seen F1 from every angle, starting with his days…

VW AMAROK DC 3,0 TDI V6 165 kW HIGHLINE 4MOTION AT EST PRICE: R705 000 ETA: June WE ARE HERE THE bakkie crowd hasn’t exactly made it easy for Wolfsburg’s leisure pickup, has it? When the Amarok was unveiled eight years ago with a 2,0-litre turbodiesel under the bonnet, the khaki set cried foul. Where was the 3,0-litre oil-burner to match the engine sizes of its rivals? Global sales have been middling; VW’s people candidly admitted as much when we visited the company’s headquarters to sample its newest product. In South Africa, likewise, double-cab versions of the Hilux and Ranger have resoundingly outsold the Amarok. And I find that perplexing. Where leisure bakkies see the most use – on-road and in urban settings – the Volkswagen is the most comfortable…

Benz typically polished, but the S90 feels special Ian McLaren S90’s looks and interior wow, but the E is infused with refinement and engineering quality Steve Smith I respect the E-Class, but I love the Volvo. S90 for me Terence Steenkamp S90’s solidity will give the Germans pause for thought Gareth Dean FAST FACTS MERCEDES-BENZ E220d 9G-TRONIC Price: R766 700 0-100 km/h: 7,33 sec Power/Torque: 143 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 240 km/h CAR fuel index: 4,68 L/100 km CO2: 112 g/km VOLVO S90 D5 AWD INSCRIPTION GEARTRONIC Price: R821 200 0-100 km/h: 7,79 sec Power/Torque: 173 kW/480 N.m Top speed: 240 km/h CAR fuel index: 5,76 L/100 km CO2 : 127 g/km MERCEDES-BENZ E220d 9G-TRONIC vs. VOLVO S90 D5 AWD INSCRIPTION GEARTRONIC The S90 won’t have it easy in this…

Holds its own among esteemed company Ian McLaren Still a good car, but not as well priced as before Wilhelm Lutjeharms A polished product, but would you really have one over a Golf? Ryan Bubear Price: R299 995 0-100 km/h: 11,09 sec Power/Torque: 95 kW/157 N.m Top speed: 200 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,80 L/100 km CO2: 154 g/km YOU would be forgiven for not realising the Kia Cerato had recently undergone a facelift. The changes are that subtle. Updates in other markets included a new trim line and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, but here in South Africa, the compact hatch merely makes do with an updated “tiger nose” grille. And that’s basically it; everything else remains the same. Why the test, then? Well, in our March 2014 issue we pitted…

FILTER TEST #1 ELEMENT BUBBLE TEST FILTER TYPE: All filters. SCOPE: One side of the filter element is pressurised with air while submerged in a test liquid. The air pressure is then increased until the first bubble is released. REASONING: Evaluation of filter-element integrity, paper-grade quality and that a sufficient amount of adhesive has been used at the filter end caps. FILTER TEST #2 RESTRICTION, PRESSURE DROP, HOLDING CAPACITY & EFFICIENCY FILTER TYPE: Air. SCOPE: This test assesses the overall performance of an air filter using a high-tech air-flow rig capable of delivering special ISO specification dust to the air stream. REASONING: Airborne contaminants such as soot and dust are harmful to the engine and the air-flow sensors. The latter can be contaminated, hampering ECU control, and dust entering the…

RUNNING OUT OF CHARGE Recently, my car’s alternator failed and a friend of mine’s suffered a similar incident. About 40 years ago, a car of mine also had an alternator/ generator failure and I was told afterwards that I could have driven for about two hours (or less than one hour at night) before the battery ran flat. As I understand it, in the 1960s a car had only a fuel pump, coil, fan and maybe a radio as auxiliary electrical loads. Today’s cars obviously have many more electric items. My question is: if I’m on a long trip and the alternator light comes on, for how long can I drive until the battery gives in, causing the vehicle to stop? This could be very important over a weekend, or…

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. AUTOMATED TESTING Thanks for the great magazine and for keeping your doors open despite two rival magazines closing shop; I guess your muti works wonders. Corruption and outdated testing methods are the main contributors to the carnage on our roads. It is an open secret that, when you test for your driver’s licence, you have to pay a bribe regardless of your level of competency. Whether you can drive or not, you are then able to obtain your driver’s licence. This got me thinking: if…

Our appetite for SUVs has largely rendered the SA market something of a station wagon no-man’s-land. So it comes as little surprise that the latest two-box load luggers from BMW and Mercedes won’t be coming this way. And that’s a real shame. The 5 Series Touring (top) serves up 570 to 1 700 dm3 of luggage space in a tastefully executed package that includes self-levelling rear suspension and a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines with outputs ranging from 140 to 250 kW. Equally adept at shifting antiques as it is at shaming sports-cars, Mercedes-AMG’s E63 S Estate (bottom) features the firm’s 4,0-litre biturbo V8 with 450 kW/850 N.m on tap. This allows the AWD Estate to achieve a 3,5-second 0-100 km/h sprint ... still interested in that SUV?…

“OUR CONTROL ROOM IS THE HEARTBEAT OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS” What I do I’m part of the product planning and control team at our Prospecton plant in Durban. The team and I do two basic things: we plan the production for the total plant; and then there’s the production control aspect, which is the minute-by-minute activity of handling a vehicle on the production line, from its start at the body shop, all the way through until we hand it over to the vehicle-logistics division. Production planning This involves us making sure we get all our supplier parts on time. Many of these parts are imported and so our lead-time is long (usually three months); it’s April now and I’m already planning what we need for July’s production. We need that…

THE car in these pictures is the singular, simple reason for the road-going GTV6 3,0’s existence. It was homologated for no other reason than to square up against the BMW 535i, Ford Sierra XR8 and Mazda RX7 at the time, and this specific example was raced by Nico Bianco in the very popular Group One race series during the early 1980s. With racing so competitive back then, regulators had to seal the racecars’ bonnets to prevent illegal modifications to the engines between meets. Urban legend has it that, despite these restrictions, Alfa technicians were still able to access the engine from below in order to enhance the performance. Whether this was true or not hardly matters, and only adds further colour to the 3,0-litre’s legendary status. Bianco’s car is now…

Shows promise, but has one of the worst transmissions I’ve encountered Terence Steenkamp Remains a practical and distinctive offering, but HDi engine lacks refinement Gareth Dean Silky 1,2 Pureline engine likely better suited to this otherwise pleasantly sophisticated package Ian McLaren Price: R299 900 0-100 km/h: 12,97 sec Power/Torque: 68 kW/230 N.m Top speed: 181 km/h CAR fuel index: 4,80 L/100 km CO2: 103 g/km TASKED with representing Peugeot in the Liquorice Allsorts contest that is the light-crossover segment, the bumped-up 2008 was first introduced in 2014. Offering both a longer wheelbase and raised ride height over the 208 hatch on which it’s based, the added zero in its naming suggests a more usable, adventure-seeker role. It’s a role reinforced by the optional pseudo-all-terrain Grip Control setting for added off-the-beaten-track…

Durable and solid, with good resale value, but too boring Wilhelm Lutjeharms The Corolla may be showing its age, but it’s still a generous offering Nikesh Kooverjee The Corolla for impractical types. Rather get the 1,6 or 1,4D Terence Steenkamp As before, the cabin has a reassuring feeling of solidity, but some areas scuff easily Price: R336 300 0-100 km/h: 9,31 sec Power/Torque: 103 kW/173 N.m Top speed: 200 km/h CAR fuel index: 8,4 L/100 km CO2: 165 g/km THIS year, Toyota celebrates 50 years of one of its bestselling products, the Corolla. To tie in with these celebrations, the company has unveiled a facelifted version of the 11th generation, which was originally launched in 2013. Aside from the restyled nose, you will need a sharp eye to distinguish the…

SUGAR-DAMAGED ENGINE? My Isuzu KB250 was unfortunately the subject of a malicious attack at a service centre, where a disgruntled employee poured sugar into the engine’s oil-filler hole. I understand that it was then started and run until it reached operational temperature before rough running ensued. Only after inspection did the centre find sugar in the sump. Is the engine now destroyed, or can a flush get rid of all the sugar in the system? JOHAN LOUW Via email We are shocked to hear about the attack and trust that the centre will take the required action against the employee and repair the damage to your engine. Sugar acts as an abrasive when cold (in much the same way as sand) and damages the surfaces of all the moving parts,…

NOTES The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 23 February 2017. 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.…

1967 First Formula One Grand Prix, featuring Pedro Rodriguez. 1968 Jim Clark (Lotus) wins his final GP. 1970 Last F1 victory for triple world champion, Jack Brabham. 1973 First SA F1 Grand Prix for Jody Scheckter (McLaren). 1974 American driver Peter Revson dies after crashing in practice. 1975 Jody Scheckter (Tyrrell) becomes first SA driver to win the SA Grand Prix. 1977 Horrific accident claims the lives of driver Tom Pryce and marshal Frederik Janse van Vuuren. 1982 Grand Prix Drivers’ Association-led strike before the race. Alain Prost (Renault) wins. 1984 McLaren clean sweep: Niki Lauda first, Alain Prost second. 1985 Race boycotted by French and Italian teams. Nigel Mansell (Williams) wins. 1992 First GP after six years. Mansell (Williams) wins again. 1993 Final GP at Kyalami. Alain Prost (Williams)…

THROWAWAY CARS In my 20s, I worked in the music industry and enjoyed passions of mine: music and guitars. One of the frequent debates I would have with customers related to the best guitar to use; looking at the international market, there were so many options. However, the single-biggest consideration was given to product support because, let’s be honest, as long as a product needs servicing, it is only as good as its support. This brings me to the point of this letter: the product support and longevity of motor vehicles. I often find myself asking whether or not car manufacturers are missing the point with their current offerings, not because of performance, but because of support. The cars that are produced today can have anything from one onboard computer…

• CONGRATULATIONS on your 60th birthday. I can proudly say that I’ve been a CAR reader since 1990 and a subscriber since 1996, with only 2016 which I unfortunately had to skip. Since the end of 2016, though, I have been subscriber again. 2016 felt as if something was missing from my life. When I’ve decided to renew my subscription I thought of going the digital route but when mentioning that to my dad he was a bit disappointed. So I’ve decided to go for both; digital for me and the physical magazine for my dad, who is a pensioner, and both my nephews who are still scholars but avid CAR readers. They love those cards you included with the January issue. I’m 40 years old and wish to be…

HOW long could you hold a wheelie on your bicycle, whether planned or at a moment’s notice? When you were a kid, how long could you balance on the back wheel while giving the front tyre air? The answer is “not long enough”, if my experience is anything to go by. On a crisp 1980s suburbia morning, I had just noticed an alarmingly empty skyward-pointing front assembly, leading me to realise my BMX’s front wheel had detached itself... Front wheel on a solo trajectory and exposed, bright-blue forks bracing for impact, I remember two things during the ensuing moment of clarity: how would I explain my imminent trip to the emergency room to my father; and, more importantly, would such a catastrophic failure have ever happened to the rider of…

NINETY-nine out of a hundred local GTI buyers choose the six-speed DSG option over the manual. And that’s why, when the facelifted hot hatch becomes available next month, VWSA won’t offer the latter. A pity, really, as the slick-shifting manual is a pure delight. But that’s progress in an ever-more-congested world, I guess. Anyway, the DSG is as great as it’s always been, and VW appears to have lessened the lag at take-off. Now offering 169 kW in standard form – a Performance Pack option will follow next year – the GTI will cost an estimated R546 000 and boast extended ambient lighting, LED headlamps, new Brooklyn alloy wheels and bespoke rear lights over cooking Golfs. As an aside, the flagship R model’s 2,0-litre will produce 213 kW (5 kW…

THE W12 is essentially two banks of V6s at 72° apart, and the two banks of each V6 are only 15° adrift, which allows a single cylinder head with double camshafts each. This unique layout means that it is extremely compact at only 650 mm in length, which improves packaging and allows space for the AWD system. According to Paul Jones, product line director, Bentley increased power over the 2009 Supersports by enlarging the two turbos’ turbine capacity in order to up the boost pressure to 1,4 bar. It also increased intercooler performance to combat the onset of knock (auto-ignition) threatened by higher combustion pressures. This was done without resorting to retarding ignition timing, which would have lowered the power output.…

This genuinely surprised me. Outstanding effort from Alfa Romeo Steve Smith Finally, a modern Alfa that backs up its good looks Ian McLaren Drop-dead gorgeous, a corker of a V6 and utterly immersive to drive fast Ryan Bubear Price: R1 400 000 0-100 km/h: 4,15 sec Power/Torque: 375 kW/600 N.m Top speed: 305 km/h CAR fuel index: 10,2 L/100 km CO2: 198 g/km THE finest Alfa Romeos of years gone by were achingly beautiful things imbued with handling finesse, near-perfect weight distribution and an unquantifiable emotional appeal. The engine was sited at the front, drive was channelled to the rear and weight was kept to an absolute minimum. For the best part of the past three decades, however, the Turin-based brand has diluted this DNA, seemingly losing sight of what…

The BMW feels faster, but the Audi stays glued in the rear-view mirror Nicol Louw Two distinct characters. It’s the more composed S3 for me. Steve Smith The BMW is indulgent, interactive, interesting. It gets the nod Terence Steenkamp The S3 is more liveable, but the M140i is more loveable Nikesh Kooverjee FAST FACTS AUDI S3 SEDAN QUATTRO S TRONIC Price: R656 000 0-100 km/h: 4,90 sec Power/Torque: 228 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,68 L/100 km CO2: 148 g/km BMW M140I SPORT STEPTRONIC Price: R677 902 0-100 km/h: 5,30 sec Power/Torque: 250 kW/500 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 8,52 L/100 km CO2: 163 g/km AUDI S3 SEDAN QUATTRO S TRONIC vs. BMW M140i SPORT STEPTRONIC PRACTICAL performance cars: it’s a concept that…

All you need for commuting. Pity not all helmets fit underneath the seat Wilhelm Lutjeharms IT is 07h40 and I need to be at a recording studio five kilometres away for a radio interview at 08:00. This would be impossible in a car because peak-hour traffic means the usually free-flowing double carriageway has now transformed into a massive car park. This time, though, it does not bother me in the slightest, as I twist the scooter’s throttle and glide through the congestion like the proverbial hot knife through butter. Thanks to the SYM GTS’ traffic-beating abilities, I reach the studio with a few minutes to spare. SYM scooters are manufactured in Taiwan by Sanyang Motor Company, which was founded in 1954 and whose products are imported to South Africa by…

In earlier days, it used to be common practice to straighten the rods  In the interests of protecting him from unwanted fame, stalkers and the paparazzi, CAR cannot reveal the true identity of the resourceful Garageman TOO MUCH WATER Many people are a bit careless with the things they say in front of children. Some time ago, I told my wife that I think my brother Jeremy is a bit of a jerk. My grandson Daniel heard this and started to call my brother Uncle Jerkery. The name stuck and eventually spread. Jerkery owns one of those part-time 4x4s that are based on a front-wheel-drive chassis. He occasionally goes off-roading and, three weeks ago, took his family out for the day on a scenic circular route that unfortunately ended…

There is no such thing as a 100% efficient filter – one that filters all of the particulates – as such a filter would not allow any flow. A filter, therefore, strikes a balance between filtering efficiency, restriction to flow and lifespan. In short, the higher the efficiency, the greater the restriction to flow. This makes logical sense as the pore size in the filter element has a direct influence on flow and filtering capability. Special cellulose paper impregnated with resin and additives is still the most popular material used to create the filter element and also the most expensive part of any filter. Synthetic filter elements are the future for high-efficiency filters, but the cost is prohibitive (up to five times more expensive). Part of each filter manufacturer’s intellectual…

An oil-pressure switch is a simple mechanical device that can measure only the presence of oil pressure but not the magnitude. It normally consists of a diaphragm and a spring that acts as the switching mechanism. The component is screwed into the engine block where the opening to the diaphragm is subjected to the high oil pressure inside an oil gallery. The switch is grounded on the engine block and a voltage is supplied to the electrical pin. The default state of the switch is closed and the connection allows the current to pass through and illuminate the oil-pressure light on the instrument cluster. This can be seen when the ignition is on but the engine not yet started. As soon as the engine is started, the oil pressure builds…

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 Audi A5/S5 imminent Audi A5 Cabriolet Q3 Audi A5 Sportback Q2 Audi Q5 Q2 Audi RS3 Sedan Q2 Audi RS5 Coupé Q4 Audi TT RS Q2 BMW 330e PHEV Q2 BMW M760Li Q2 Chery Tiggo 3 Q3 Chery Tiggo 5 Q3 Chevrolet Cruze Q3 Fiat Tango Q2 Ford Kuga facelift Q2 Foton Sauvana Q2 Honda Ballade facelift Q2 Honda CR-V Q3 Hyundai i30 Q3 Jeep Compass Q3 Kia Picanto Q3 Land Rover Discovery mid-year Lexus LC500 Coupé July Mahindra NuvoSport Q4 Mazda CX-5 Q2 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class facelift Q4 Mercedes-AMG GT-R imminent Mercedes-AMG E63 & E63 S Q2 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster imminent Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet Q3 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupé Q2 Mercedes-Benz GLA facelift imminent Mercedes-Benz S-Class (all models facelift) Q4 Mitsubishi ASX facelift imminent Mitsu bishi Pajero…

Mercedes-Benz C200K Estate AT, 2006, black, 232 000 km, Bellville R89 000 Mercedes-Benz C180K Estate AT, 2005, white, 132 000 km, Middelburg R99 995 311 TOTAL NUMBER OF MERCEDES-BENZ W203 C-CLASSES CURRENTLY FOR SALE ON GUMTREE 12 TOTAL NUMBER OF MERCEDES-BENZ W203 ESTATES CURRENTLY FOR SALE Audi A4 Avant 2,0T FSI, 2008, silver, 180 000 km, Cape Town R99 995 Audi A4 Avant 2,0T FSI, 2008, grey, 155 000 km, Blouberg R99 500 Volvo V50 2,4 AT, 2006, silver, 216 000 km, Hillcrest R74 990 Volvo V50 2,4, 2004, silver, 135 000 km, Parow R99 995…