Innehållsförteckning för October 2019 från CAR

It’s finally here… Following tease after agonising tease – including a preproduction drive in Spain nearly a year ago – one of 2019’s most anticipated cars has finally made landfall in South Africa. The weight of expectation on the new Toyota Supra is substantial. If social media is any indication, half of all petrolheads are willing it to be great and honour its storied legacy. The other troll-ish half want this “rebadged BMW” to fail miserably. Now that we’ve had a chance to strap our testing gear to a press unit, I think the new Supra is terrific. Sorry, cynics! Flip to page 58 to find out whether CAR’s editorial team agrees. Elsewhere in this issue, we visit Jaguar Land Rover HQ to learn more about another vehicle that’s been…

There has been some indication that the T-Roc Cabriolet could replace the Golf drop-top Billed as the first crossover drop-top in its class, the T-Roc Cabriolet lops the roof off the standard version, replacing it with an electro-hydraulically operated canvas top that can be opened and closed at speeds of up to 38 km/h. European models will feature a brace of turbopetrol engines: a 1,0-litre three-cylinder unit (85 kW/200 N.m) with a six-speed manual ‘box and a four-cylinder 1,5-litre developing 110 kW/250 N.m offered with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There has been some indication from higher-ups at VW this T-Roc could replace the already niche Golf Cabriolet, while another official has categorically ruled out the possibility of an R version. ETA: VWSA has no confirmed plans to bring this model…

The Defender will use Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0 and will be permanently connected, at least where adequate signal exists, something that again might worry those who like to explore the middle of nowhere. The Pivi Pro 10-inch infotainment touchscreen not only provides access to the main off-road settings, but connects you to the world. It’s even got Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Defender will feature software-over-the-air updates for its 14 electronic-control modules, more than any other Land Rover model. There will also be an Online Pack with unlimited data allowing you to stream music and download weather updates. A Wi-Fi pack will allow all the passengers to connect to the car, too, although both of these packs are yet to be confirmed for SA. The navigation will auto-update and…

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS PDK The overall winner of Performance Shootout 2019, the 718 Cayman GTS is a sublime driver’s car. Reservations about its bland engine note aside, the Porsche can do no wrong. price: R1 174 000 cyl/capac: 4/2 497 cm3 power: 269 kW/6 500 r/min torque: 430 N.m/1 900-5 000 r/min gears/drive: 7/R 0-100 km/h: 4,15 sec top speed: 290 km/h fuel index: 11,76 L/100 km luggage capac: 304 L serv/maint plan: M3/100 000 km Toyota GR Supra A superior engine to the Porsche’s but doesn’t quite peak at the same dynamic heights. Still, the Supra would make a great everyday sportscar. Toyota’s engineers deserve all the praise they receive. price: R1 082 300 cyl/capac: 6/2 998 cm3 power: 250 kW/5 000-6 500 r/min torque: 500 N.m/1 600-4…

BMW X7 M50d xDrive Steptronic With bags of standard kit, handy final-row space and dazzling-yet-frugal performance from that sledgehammer of a diesel engine, the X7 M50d places first. But Stuttgart’s new GLS is just around the corner.  price: R1 862 308 cyl/capac: 6/2 993 cm3 power: 294 kW/4 400 r/min torque: 760 N.m/2 000-3 000 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 5,52 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 8,76 L/100 km luggage capac: 152-760/1 544 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Lexus LX570 V8 The 5,7-litre V8 under the LX570’s bonnet generates less power and torque than the X7’s far smaller oil-burner, all while taking huge gulps of unleaded. Still, the Lexus is an interesting alternative.  price: R1 798 800 cyl/capac: 8/4 663 cm3 power: 270 kW/5 600 r/min torque:…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 92,0/103,6 mm Cubic capacity: 2 755 cm3 Compression ratio: 15,6 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 130 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 400/4 400 r/min Max torque: 450 N.m Torque peak: 1 400-2 600 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: six-speed automatic 1st gear /2nd gear: 3,60/2,09 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,49/1,00 to 1 5th gear/Top gear: 0,69/0,58 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,73 to 1 Final drive: 3,91 to 1 Low range transfer: n/a Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control) BRAKES Front: 319 mm ventilated discs Rear: 295 mm drums Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Bridgestone Dueler A/T Tyre size:…

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S PDK Smaller luggage capacity but its rear seats are hardly any less compromised. Lighter and more dynamically capable, plus there’s a cheaper rear-wheel-drive model on offer. price: R1 797 000 cyl/capac: H6/2 981 cm3 power: 331 kW/6 500 r/min torque: 530 N.m/2 300-5 000 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 3,60 sec est top speed: 306 km/h fuel index: 10,80 L/100 km luggage capac: 112 L serv/maint plan: M3/100 000 km BMW M850i xDrive Coupé Steptronic Some packaging anomalies that don’t quite equate considering its dimensions. Head-turning looks and a hugely impressive drive-train making light work of the 8’s relative bulk. price: R1 887 827 cyl/capac: V8/4 395 cm3 power: 390 kW/5 500-6 000 r/min torque: 750 N.m/1 800-4 600 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 3,93 sec…

Hyundai Santa Fe 2,2 CRDi 4WD Elite More refined than either of these bakkie-based SUVs, the Santa Fe is an accomplished family car with a big boot, oodles of convenience and safety equipment, and refined driving manners. price: R749 900 cyl/capac: 4/2 199 cm3 power: 142 kW/3 800 r/min torque: 440 N.m/1 750-2 750 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 9,19 sec top speed: 203 km/h fuel index: 9,40 L/100 km luggage capac: 144-472/1 544 L serv/maint plan: S5/90 000 km Ford Everest 2,0 BiT 4x4 Limited 10AT Widens the gap between it and the Fortuner thanks to a more refined, frugal engine, noteworthy safety features and better packaging (although the Toyota does boast the bigger boot). price: R761 200 cyl/capac: 4/1 996 cm3 power: 157 kW/3 750 r/min torque: 500…

5 273 km 7,98 L/100 km + ease of use; sprightly powertrain - engine vibrations Vehicle adverts, particularly those showcasing SUVs, frequently choose the great outdoors as a setting. In reality, those vehicles spend most of their time slogging in peak traffic, dropping the kids at school and running errands over the weekends. Thankfully, the Kia Sportage excels at all these tasks. You can just jump in and go; the automatic transmission and punchy powertrain mean you can easily close that gap in traffic or relax while following a long snake of cars in stop-start commuting. The Sportage’s suspension setup and responsive steering enable the driver to make it in time for that important meeting even if a few corners are in the way. The ride is slightly firm but,…

SPECIFICATIONS Price: R161 950 Engine: 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled Displacement: 749 cm3 Power: 110 kW @ 12 800 r/min Torque: 86 N.m @ 11 200 r/min Transmission: 6-speed Tyre sizes: 120/70 ZR17 (f); 180/55 ZR17 (r) Frame: aluminium alloy trellis Seat height: 810 mm Fuel tank: 17,0 L Fuel cons (on test): 8,70 L/100 km Mass (fuelled): 188 kg Warranty: two years/unlimited km Service: 6 000 km/12 months TEST RESULTS ACCELERATION (seconds) 0-40 0-60 0-80 0-100 0-120 0-140 1,50 2,28 3,02 3,69 4,45 5,52…

Red Bull does not take prisoners. This is a serious racing team with its own young driver programme. Fail to score points and you’re out. Tomorrow. Five years ago, Toro Rosso (through Red Bull) announced the signing of 16-year-old Max Verstappen (above left) as an F1 driver for 2015. That spelled the end of the F1 line for Jean-Éric Vergne, who had been with Toro Rosso since 2012. Verstappen’s immediate speed was enough to have Red Bull elevate the Dutchman up the ladder five races into the 2016 season and cue a slide for Daniil Kvyat back down the snake to Toro Rosso, where he had started in 2014. The Russian had been promoted to Red Bull in 2015 when Sebastian Vettel moved to Ferrari, Vettel’s decision having been prompted…

Classic car ownership involves a lot of polishing to return shine to chrome components. At some stage, though, polish is not enough to undo the work of the tin worm. In the case of a restoration project, electroplating is the only option. We visited an engineering firm in Cape Town which specialises in nickel and chrome plating to see how it is done. The first section we visited contained the preparation work stations. As with painting, prep is everything because the smallest blemish is all too obvious after chroming. The quality of the end product is determined here. STEP 1: SANDING As electroplating is a metal-to-metal process (see The chemistry), there can be no impurities on the metal surface of the car part. Depending on the state of the component,…

This tiny tyke sported flared fenders, wings, side skirts and retro graphics. Nicknamed the “Bulldog”, the special Kei car had a mass of 745 kg, a 2 220 mm wheelbase housing fully independent suspension and Volk Racing wheels (not pictured here) encased in 185/60 R13 tyres. Under the bonnet was a cracking 1,2-litre turbopetrol inline-four engine sending 81 kW and 160 N.m of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. This allowed it to reach 100 km/h in 8,4 seconds and hit a top speed of 175 km/h. Fittingly for a performance car from the 1980s, the City Turbo II’s speedometer and turbo boost gauge were digital. The Turbo II’s cabin had a set of unique items: partial leather bucket seats, a small refrigerator big enough for…

Email: car@ramsaymedia.co.za Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 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. CREDIT TO CAR Although I don’t own a modern-day vehicle (I drive a 1984 Ford 3000 bakkie), I keep myself informed about the latest automotive technology because I read (or rather study) CAR magazine every month. My favourite is the TECH section, with Casebook right at the top. I love it! Those nicknames and how they come about always make me wonder whether they are fabricated or real. It’s very creative. Garageman, you…

In 1947, Rover’s technical director, Maurice Wilks, began working on an old Willys Jeep and soon pulled in colleagues to create their first prototype, known as the J-Model. But it was in 1948 that the legacy of the Defender really began with the debut of production models. Revealed at the Amsterdam Motor Show, the Defender quickly found favour with everyone from farmers to explorers, and the military to aid organisations, and in 1950, it was named the Series I. The year 1953 saw the arrival of what could be regarded as one of the first SUVs, the Station Wagon with seating for up to seven. A long-wheelbase version appeared in the same year, including a bakkie model, before the Series II made its debut in 1958 and lived on until…

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 D240 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, twinturbo-diesel Transmission: 8-speed auto Power: 177 kW @ 4 000 r/min Torque: 430 N.m @ 1 400 r/min 0-100 km/h: 9,1 seconds Top speed: 188 km/h Fuel consumption: 8,9 L/100 km CO2 : 234 g/km LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 P300 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, twinturbo-petrol Transmission: 8-speed auto Power: 221 kW @ 5 500 r/min Torque: 400 N.m @ 1 500-4 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 8,1 seconds Top speed: 191 km/h Fuel consumption: 11,5 L/100 km CO2 : 260 g/km LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 P400 Engine: 3,0-litre, 6-cyl, twinturbo-petrol Transmission: 8-speed auto Power: 294 kW @ 5 500 r/min Torque: 550 N.m @ 2 000-5 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 6,1 seconds Top speed: 220 km/h Fuel consumption: 11,2 L/100 km CO2 : 255 g/km…

As Eddie Assad opens the door to his collection, I first spot three 911s before the extent of his love for the entire brand – and particularly the 356 – becomes evident. Eddie’s adoration for all things Porsche started with a magenta 1974 2,7-litre (MFI) 911 Carrera he bought in the UK; it was the Earl’s Court Motor Show car. “At the time, I test drove all the Italian exotics but a friend suggested I drive a Porsche 911. I wasn’t really interested in them; however, once I did, I realised this is my type of car. I couldn’t believe how it could go.” During his time in London, Eddie and his friends drove their cars all over the UK and throughout Europe. It was not all about performance, though;…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: six, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 82,0/94,6 mm Cubic capacity: 2 998 cm3 Compression ratio : 11,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 250 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 000-6 500/ 6 600 r/min Max torque: 500 N.m Torque peak: 1 600-4 500 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: eight-speed automatic 1st gear/2nd gear: 5,25/3,36 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,17/1,72 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,32/1,00 to 1 7th gear/Top gear: 0,82/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,71 to 1 Final drive: 3,15 to 1 Drive wheels: rear Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 348 mm ventilated discs Rear: 345 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: six, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 84,0/90,0 mm Cubic capacity: 2 993 cm3 Compression ratio: 16,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 294 kW Power peak/Red line: 4 400/5 000 r/min Max torque: 760 N.m Torque peak: 2 000-3 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: eight-speed automatic 1st gear /2nd gear: 5,50/3,52 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,20/1,72 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,32/1,00 to 1 7th gear/Top gear: 0,82/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,99 to 1 Final drive: 3,23 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 385 mm ventilated discs Rear: 345 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make:…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 95,4/104,9 mm Cubic capacity: 2 999 cm3 Compression ratio: 17,3 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 130 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 600/4 400 r/min Max torque: 380 N.m Torque peak: 1 800-2 800 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: six-speed automatic 1st gear /2nd gear: 3,60/2,09 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,49/1,00 to 1 5th gear/Top gear: 0,68/0,58 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,73 to 1 Final drive: 3,73 to 1 Low range transfer: 2,48 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control) BRAKES Front: 300 mm ventilated discs Rear: 295 mm drums Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: BF Goodrich All…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: V8, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, petrol Bore/stroke: 89,0/88,3 mm Cubic capacity: 4 395 cm3 Compression ratio: 10,5 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 390 kW Power peak/Red line: 5 000/6 000 r/min Max torque: 750 N.m Torque peak: 1 800-4 600 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: eight-speed automatic 1st gear /2nd gear: 5,50/3,52 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,20/1,72 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,31/1,00 to 1 7th gear/Top gear: 0,82/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,99 to 1 Final drive: 2,81 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 395 mm ventilated discs Rear: 398 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Michelin Pilot…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 84,0/90,0 mm Cubic capacity: 1 996 cm3 Compression ratio: 16,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 157 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 750/4 500 r/min Max torque: 500 N.m Torque peak: 1 500-2 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: ten-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/Top gear: 0,69/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 4,87 to 1 Final drive: 3,31 to 1 Low range transfer: 2,72 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 302 mm ventilated discs Rear: solid discs Hydraulics:…

Built in Japan SPECIFICATIONS Price: ±R50 000 Engine: 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, air/oil-cooled Displacement: 749 cm3 Power: 73 kW @ 10 500 r/min Torque: 71 N.m @ 8 000 r/min Transmission: 6-speed Cooling: air-/oil-cooled Front suspension: posi damp fork, telescopic, pneumatic/coil spring, 4-way adjustable damper Rear suspension: full floater, fully adjustable pre-load, 4 damping positions Tyre sizes: 110/80 V18 (f); 140/70 V18 (r) Frame: aluminium twin downtube Seat height: 755 mm Fuel tank: 21,0 L Fuel cons (on test): n/a Mass (fuelled): 185 kg…

IGNITION TROUBLES In our part of the world, it’s not possible to be a Wessels and not have a nickname … there’s just too many of them. There was a time when nearly every member of our rugby team was called Koos Wessels. This situation changed in 2000 when the Wessels clan held a millennium party and, for a spot of fun, the oldest male present suggested they number the men in order of their age. They all lined up and were given numbers, number one being the eldest. Members of the clan now proudly reveal their numbers; it signifies you were present at what is deemed the party of the century. A common reason for engines not starting after replacing points is the feeler gauge used for adjusting the…

HORSEPOWER EXPLAINED I once witnessed a farm tractor on a dyno after an engine overhaul and the dyno load could be adjusted up or down. This brings me to a few questions: • How accurate are the power and torque figures of engines claimed by manufacturers? • Are the dynos regularly calibrated and checked by some auditing authority? • As a youngster, I remember that an engine was sold as a 13 horsepower (hp). Later, it changed to brake horsepower (bhp). What does bhp refer to? LOUWRENS OOSTHUIZEN Kleinmond As background, in the 18th century, Scottish engineer James Watt compared the power of a steam engine with the power of a horse when lifting 33 000 foot-pounds per minute. That means an average horse can lift 550 pounds (249 kg)…

01 SCOTT SPEED was brought into F1 by Red Bull for 2006 and dropped from Toro Rosso halfway through 2007 in favour of Sebastian Vettel. 02 SÉBASTIEN BOURDAIS raced in F1 for Toro Rosso in 2008; replaced by Jaime Alguersuari midway through 2009. 03 SÉBASTIAN BUEMI joined Toro Ros-so when Vettel was moved to Red Bull in 2009. Lasted three seasons before being replaced, along with Alguersuari, by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne. 04 JEAN-ÉRIC VERGNE was dropped after three seasons with Toro Rosso. 05 DANIIL KVYAT was hired by Toro Rosso for 2014, promoted to Red Bull, dropped by Red Bull and then Toro Ros-so; rehired in 2019 by Toro Rosso. 06 BRENDON HARTLEY joined Red Bull’s junior programme in 2008 but had to wait until the end of…

Clever initial marketing saw the provision of some standard features uncommon at the time. These included a large factory-fitted National Panasonic FM/AM radio, full carpeting, rear armrest and twin reversing lamps. The cherry on top was a full set of luggage to fill the boot. The H- and L-series engines are not to be confused with the sought-after S-series. These had 24 valves with d-o-h-c and were used in the Skyline GTs. The s-o-h-c L-series engines were also used in the 240Z and 280Z.…

As part of its 110th anniversary, Bugatti has commissioned just 10 examples of the stunning Centodieci (110) hypercar. Billed as an homage to the outrageously powerful, Gandini-styled EB110, the Centodieci shaves 20 kg off the kerb weight of the Chiron and is powered by an 8,0-litre W16 quad-turbo engine channelling 1 176 kW through an AWD drivetrain. Despite wearing an €8 million price tag (±R135 million), all 10 Centodiecis have been accounted for.…

1934 CITROËN TRACTION AVANT The Traction Avant pioneered the double-wishbone arrangement on production cars. Even more impressive: it made use of independent suspension at each corner. 1950 FORD CONSUL This British-built Ford was the first production car to employ Mac-Pherson struts, an independent front-suspension setup which has become common in modern vehicles. 1969 MERCEDES-BENZ C111 Although it never reached production, Stuttgart’s experimental sportscar featured a first-of-its-kind multilink rear suspension. Only 16 examples of the C111 were built. 1982 MERCEDES-BENZ W201 The predecessor to the C-Class was equipped with an innovative five-link independent rear suspension, which would later cross over to other Benz models.…

Land Rover wants the Defender to appeal to as many people as possible, so it has created a number of different models and more than 170 accessories. The basic versions will be the standard 110 arriving in the first half of 2020, followed in the second half by the shorter 90. More models will join the line-up in 2021. There will be an Urban model to park outside your local coffee shop with 22-inch wheels and side panels in bright colours as well as unique interior bits. The Country will feature a built-in 6,5-litre water tank with a sprayer so you can clean your wellies or your mountain bike. Then there will be more hardcore models. The Explorer will feature a ladder, snorkel and a roof rack that can take…

Price: POA Engine: 6,75-litre, V12, twinturbo-petrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 420 kW @ 5 000 r/min Torque: 900 N.m @ 1 700 r/min 0-100 km/h: 5,3 seconds* Top speed: 250 km/h* Fuel consumption: 13,9 L/100 km* C02 : 318 g/km Rivals: Bentley Mulsanne; Mercedes-Maybach S650 + peak of opulent motoring; ride quality - a pain to park … not that you’ll be doing it There are certain players in the automotive industry that are so far removed from the “riff-raff”, they play in a different league. Think of the hypercars from the likes of Koenigsegg, Pagani and Bugatti, for example. They’re more than just dream cars; in terms of cost and performance, they’re simply in a realm of their own. But what if you crave the ultimate the industry offers in…

Price: R1 082 300 0-100 km/h: 4,31 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h Power: 250 kW Torque: 500 N.m CAR fuel index: 9,24 L/100 km CO2 : 177 g/km The realisation dawns a few minutes after you first set off in the A90-generation Supra: it feels different to a Z4 M40i. Sure, the exhaust note is clearly Bavarian and you’ll have to try really, really hard not to notice BMW switchgear in your periphery as you peer out the deeply slanted windscreen. The dissimilarity, however, is in the way the Supra drives. It’s softer yet, somehow, beautifully controlled, too. The suspension offers real compliance but the two-door coupé is never loose-limbed. But more on that later. The product of joint development by Japan and Germany (an agonisingly long gestation period), the Supra…

Most manufacturers are developing and testing fully autonomous vehicles. Although we’re starting to get used to the idea of a car driving itself, many safety risks need attention. One such hazard is the transition period of the driver relinquishing control to the vehicle, and vice versa. Continental has developed an infra-red interior camera which monitors the driver and passengers with software algorithms determining if certain vehicle functions are available. With the use of the footage, it is possible to establish where the driver’s eyes are focused, whether their hands are on the steering wheel and if they are positioned correctly in their seat. This is extremely important before the transition between autonomous driving and driver control can take place. The camera should not be seen as big brother; no data…

STARTING PROBLEM I own a 2010 VW Polo Vivo 1,4. It has a peculiar problem: it is difficult to start when it has been parked in direct sunlight for a large part of the day. The problem materialised in 2017 and the vehicle has been serviced by Volkswagen since new. If the vehicle is parked undercover in a cool parking space, it starts normally. When the problem occurs, the engine cranks but fails to fire. During each subsequent attempt, the engine sounds closer to starting but it takes about six cranking events before it eventually catches. I have tried to open all windows and the bonnet for about an hour on a hot day to let it cool down but still have the same issue. Can you please solve this…

The teams were taking a well-earned break; F1 journalists, too, as they stepped away from the 24/7 demands of social media. A couple of days into the holiday, though, it was all hands to the keyboards as Red Bull made one of the biggest announcements of the season: Pierre Gasly was being demoted with immediate effect in a swap with Alexander Albon at Toro Rosso. The fact that, 12 months previously, Albon looked to have no F1 drive at all added further poignancy to this brutal response to a driver (Gasly) not performing as Red Bull expected. The shock decision has several strands. There is no question Gasly produced disappointing results, the 23-year-old Frenchman scoring barely a quarter of the points won by Max Verstappen in the other Red Bull.…

Indian Motorcycle is arguably the only motorcycle brand that evokes immediate nostalgia by simply saying its name. As America’s first motorcycle company, established in 1901, the illustrious history and pedigree of the Brand is celebrated by Indian Motorcycle owners worldwide. As the official importer and distributor; Cardinals Motor Corporation has been the driving force behind the huge success of the iconic brand in South Africa. Housed at Cardinal’s premises in Boksburg; you will find their official Indian Motorcycle workshop, service and parts centre. Their world-class Indian Motorcycle store in Melrose Arch offers every other facet to this ultimate lifestyle brand. Indian Motorcycle Johannesburg is situated in the trendy surroundings of cobble-street cafés and international boutique stores in the upmarket shopping “village” of Melrose Arch. This superlative store with its impressive…