Innehållsförteckning för September 2020 från CAR

Two years ago, I wrote my first letter as editor of CAR. Twenty-three issues later and this is my goodbye to you (the tally would have been an appealing double dozen if it wasn’t for COVID-19 forcing a May/June compilation, but what can you do?). It’s been a dream come true helming one of South Africa’s great media titles and an experience I’ll cherish. How many people can say that? Of course, it would have been impossible to maintain CAR’s lofty standards without a dedicated, opinionated (much to my occasional chagrin) team, and I want to doff my cap to editorial guys Ian, Gareth, Peter, Nicol, Ryan, Wilhelm, Nikesh, Marius and Jarryd for meeting deadlines with imaginative copy, rising long before the sun for shoots (by talented photographer Peet), missing…

A 12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO CAR, WORTH R539 Reader MARK McNALLY wins a 12-month subscription to CAR magazine, South Africa’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.)…

BMW Active Hybrid E-Bike Price: U$3 260* (±R56 000) Part of the new generation of BMW bicycles, the Active Hybrid E-Bike combines the Munich-based carmaker’s eye for precision and attention to detail with emissions-free commuting. Powered by a Brose Drive S Alu motor producing 250 W and 90 N.m, and 600 Wh lithium-ion battery, the range-topping E-Bike is capable of going quite the distance on just a single charge. Suntour suspension is utilised to provide a comfortable ride and better traction. *Excludes shipping and import duties…

1920 SUZUKI IS ESTABLISHED Founded 11 years earlier in Hamamatsu, Japan, as Suzuki Loom Works, the company is incorporated and capitalised, and officially established as Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Co. 1937 START OF SOMETHING NEW Following his dream of entering into a new business venture, Suzuki president, Michio Suzuki, pursues automobile production. Although a prototype is produced, the start of World War Two puts his dream on hold. 1952 AUX IN Power Free, Suzuki’s first auxiliary motorcycle, is revealed. It’s powered by a 36 cm3 two-stroke engine producing 0,75 kW. 1954 DEDICATED TO A DREAM Signifying the Japanese firm’s dedication to the manufacturing of automobiles, the name is changed to Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. 1955 SUZUKI SUZULIGHT Donning the Suzulight namesake on its nose, Suzuki’s first mass-produced vehicle makes its debut…

Price: ±R45 million Engine: 4,0-litre, V8, twinturbo-petrol + electric motor Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Combined power: 772 kW Combined torque: 1 150 N.m 0-96 km/h: 2,9 seconds* Top speed: 402 km/h* Fuel consumption: n/a CO2 : n/a Rivals: Bugatti Chiron; Pagani Huayra + fabulous design; immense acceleration; wonderfully involving to drive you could argue the price is a tad steep There is plenty McLaren would like you to think about when contemplating its extraordinary new Speed-tail hypercar. Most obviously: the McLaren F1 shares its three-seat, arrowhead cabin configuration and that just 106 units will be produced; and its 0-300 km/h time is quicker than a Bugatti Chiron’s. But what Woking’s grands fromages wouldn’t want nor expect you to be thinking about are 50-year-old Porsches. But I can’t help myself because when I…

BMW 320i Steptronic The 320i rarely puts a foot wrong: strong performance, frugal consumption, excellent quality, engaging handling, spacious interior. The best-balanced 3 Series? price: R698 492 cyl/capac: 4/1 998 cm3 power: 135 kW/5 000-6 500 r/min torque: 300 N.m/1 350-4 000 r/min gears/drive: 8/R 0-100 km/h: 7,89 sec top speed: 235 km/h fuel index: 7,08 L/100 km luggage capac: 368/1 000 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Mercedes-Benz C200 9G-tronic Fluent ride and low noise levels make the C-Class a more relaxing daily driver than the 3 Series yet, it doesn’t quite match the BMW’s stellar blend of attributes.  price: R684 059 cyl/capac: 4/1 991 cm3 power: 150 kW/5 800-6 100 r/min torque: 300 N.m/3 000-4 000 r/min gears/drive: 9/R 0-100 km/h: 7,10 sec est top speed: 245 km/h fuel…

Volvo XC60 D5 AWD Inscription Geartronic Not only does the XC60 beat the Germans with better standard spec, but it’s cheaper than the Mercedes, too. To top it all off, it boasts a brawnier powertrain and a more practical cabin.  price: R862 100 cyl/capac: 4/1 969 cm3 power: 173 kW/4 000 r/min torque: 480 N.m/1 750-2 250 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 8,37 sec top speed: 220 km/h fuel index: 6,72 L/100 km luggage capac: 360/1 232 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km BMW X3 xDrive20d Steptronic The locally built X3 offers similar power and performance to the GLC for R27 000 less. The most dynamically engaging of the trio, the BMW boasts plenty of driver appeal and a solidly built cabin.  price: R846 938 cyl/capac: 4/1 995 cm3 power:…

Jean Todt was present at the Red Bull Ring to witness the first Grand Prix. The FIA president had a word of warning about the future. “We are going through an unprecedented time,” said Todt. “It’s very strange here. You don’t see any traffic, any cars parked and there are empty grandstands. But when you see what has been achieved, it’s amazing and I want to congratulate all the people who have been working night and day. It has been a fantastic co-ordination between the FIA and F1 with a strong contribution from the teams. It’s been a remarkable effort and we are the only international sport that has been able to achieve that. “The world is changing very quickly,” continued Todt. “The sport must adapt in order to move…

Due to 93-octane petrol being less than ideal for the 10:1 compression ratio, the timing had to be retarded to prevent detonation. This robbed the car of some power. Performance tuning expert Willie Meissner was asked to take a look. He enlarged the combustion chambers, opened the inlet and exhaust ports, and polished them. With the compression ratio reduced to 9,4:1 and the timing advanced to suit, a full 15% increase in power, plus the bonus of a 12% improvement in fuel economy, was the reward. Some of these modifications were built into the Mk2, making it more accommodating of lower-octane petrol. We do hope you found this information (Imp)ortant or even (Imp)ressive. Sorry.…

IN FOR A SHOCK I have read the various articles and letters on this issue with bemusement as well as amusement. All people are entitled to their own views but I really cannot agree with Guy Dormehl (Electrified future, July 2020) on this topic. Personally, I have no issue with electric cars. However, I feel they are really only suited to urban areas. The issue forcing manufacturers (primarily in Europe) to offer electric vehicles are the increasingly stringent EU emissions regulations, which get tightened each year. That is also the reason for offering smaller-capacity turbopetrol engines which I also have my doubts about their lifespan. In small European countries, this is fine, but in larger countries such as the United States, Australia, Russia and South Africa … not so much.…

Alfa Romeo Giulia facelift Q4Alfa Romeo Stelvio facelift Q4Aston Martin DBX 2020Aston Martin Valhalla 2020Aston Martin Vantage Roadster 2020Audi E-tron Q1 2021Audi RS Q3 and Sportback Q1 2021Audi RS Q8 Q1 2021Audi RS6 Avant Q1 2021Audi RS7 Sportback Q1 2021Audi S8 Q1 2021Audi TT RS facelift Q1 2021BMW 4 Series Coupé Q4BMW iX3 Q4 2021Changan Sedan 2020Datsun Cross 2020Ferrari 812 GTS Q4Ferrari F8 Spider Q4GWM P Series Q4Honda Ballade 2020Honda Civic Type-R facelift 2020Honda CR-V facelift 2020Honda WR-V 2020Hyundai Creta Q4Hyundai Grand i10 Q4Isuzu D-Max 2021Jeep Compass additional derivatives Q4Kia Grand Sedona 2021Kia Sorento Q4Land Rover Defender 90 Q4/2021Lexus IS Q4Lexus LC500 Convertible 2020Lexus LS facelift 2021Mahindra Scorpio 2020Mahindra Thar 2020McLaren P26 2020McLaren Sport Series 2020McLaren 765LT 2020Mercedes-Benz E-Class facelift 2020Mini Cooper JCW GP Q4Mitsubishi Mirage TBCMitsubishi Pajero Sport 2020Mitsubishi…

In attempting to unite F1 against racism, Lewis Hamilton was accused by some of actually contributing to division within the sport. This, it has to be said, was a minority view, but such criticism nevertheless reflected Hamilton’s increased profile, both on and off the track. When the reigning world champion won the Styrian Grand Prix – the second race of the relaunched season – he celebrated a dominant victory in Austria with his fist raised in a black-power salute. It was the most obvious and public symbolism of Hamilton’s association with rapid developments worldwide following the murder during arrest of black American George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota during May. As the only black F1 driver, Hamilton used global momentum to push for change in a sport that, by…

Audi S6 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic Effortless is a term often applied to Audi’s faster S cars and the S6’s great balance of refinement and performance in a premium package certainly fits the bill. price: R1 401 300 cyl/capac: V6/2 894 cm3 power: 331 kW/5 700-6 700 r/min torque: 600 N.m/1 900-5 000 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,67 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 9,96 L/100 km luggage capac: 400/984 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Mercedes-AMG E53 4Matic+ Speedshift-MCT A far more practical and affordable vessel for that wonderful 3,0-litre inline-six engine, the E53 makes a great deal more sense than the GT53, if somewhat lacking in drama. A facelift is on its way. price: R1 419 000 cyl/capac: 6/2 999 cm3 power: 336 kW/6 100 r/min torque:…

BMW X3 xDrive20d Steptronic M Sport Hard to fault. The X3 strikes a fine balance between practicality, driving pleasure and quality. M Sport’s not our first choice but it comes closest to matching the Disco’s spec.  price: R892 138 cyl/capac: 4/1 995 cm3 power: 140 kW/4 000 r/min torque: 400 N.m/1 750-2 500 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 8,55 sec top speed: 213 km/h fuel index: 6,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 314/1 136 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Mercedes-Benz GLC220d 4Matic 9G-tronic AMG Line Revitalised after its facelift, the GLC220d is the best model in a range that feels more solidly built than before. Boot is on the small side, though, but passenger room is plentiful.  price: R931 980 cyl/capac: 4/1 950 cm3 power: 143 kW/3 800 r/min torque:…

BMW 330d Sports Steptronic Deeply accomplished powertrain with no direct rivals in our market, hence the petrol and hybrid alternatives chosen here. Shows that careful speccing is crucial, though.  price: R834 030 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: 5,68 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 6,24 L/100 km luggage capac: 368/1 000 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Mercedes-Benz C300 9G-tronic Strong (claimed) performance allied with acceptably low fuel consumption but this is not our first choice in the C-Class range (we’d opt for the C200).  price: R823 200 cyl/capac: 4/1 991 cm3 power: 200 kW/5 800-6 100 r/min torque: 370 N.m/1 800-4 000 r/min gears/drive: 9/R 0-100 km/h: 5,90 sec est top speed: 250 km/h…

Mean fully developed deceleration (MFDD) is measured ignoring the first 20% and last 10% of the effort, as shown below. The idea is to exclude the initial pressure build-up in the system as well as the final period before the vehicle comes to rest, focusing on the maximum capability of the system. As can be seen on the graph above, this is approximately 10 m/s for a small hatchback, which translates to just more than 1 G of deceleration (10 m/s2/g where g = 9,81 m/s2 ).…

PARKING A VEHICLE DURING COVID-19 I own a Volvo XC60 that is currently parked for weeks because of my job role as well as COVID-19 restrictions. My concern is, a vehicle standing for long periods may develop costly problems that may otherwise be prevented if the vehicle was driven regularly. Can you please inform me if my line of thought is correct and what can go wrong when a vehicle is stationary for long periods? COLONEL CLAASEN Via email A very topical question during the current pandemic where many cars are not moving. Although new vehicles are designed to be parked for up to a month, older vehicles may sustain (costly) damage much earlier: • If the battery drains past a certain threshold, permanent damage occurs. • Air-conditioning systems must run at…

Brawn, as Formula One’s managing director of motorsport, had the unenviable task of overseeing the practicalities involved with the return of Grand Prix racing. In many years spent as technical chief with Benetton, Ferrari, Mercedes and running his own team, Brawn had never experienced anything like this. “I’m delighted we’ve got the F1 season going with two cracking Grands Prix,” said Brawn. “It’s been a massive relief to have got to where we are now. I’d like to give a big thanks to and compliment all the people involved. Everybody in F1 has been involved in getting us here, as you need every person to behave responsibly. “It’s astonishing we have managed to get through the successive weekends in Austria with a clean bill of negative tests. On the first…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before the end of July 2020. 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 =…

With a DC fast charger, a 0-80% top-up takes just 34 minutes Boasting a 74 kWh battery pack, with a gross capacity of 80 kWh, the iX3 is the opening gambit of BMW’s fully electric SUV range. According to the Bavarian firm, the zero-emissions X3 is equipped with an innovative charging unit allowing for single- and three-phase charging of up to 11 kW when plugged into an AC terminal. However, coupled with a DC fast charger, this setup is capable of directing 150 kW of current to both 400 V and 12 V items for a 0-80% charge in a claimed 34 minutes. Two levels of specification will be on offer: base Inspiring grade and optional Impressive trim. LED headlamps, three-zone climate control and Driving Assistant Professional are standard, while…

1902 THOMAS B JEFFREY RAMBLER Venturing onto the unpaved road network of the early 20th century in a car with flimsy bicycle wheels was a gamble but the Rambler increased the odds of its occupants reaching their destinations by being the first car offering a spare wheel. 1910 AUSTIN 10 HP One of the first cars to move away from the often-compromised wooden artillery wheel, the 10 hp featured pressed steel items supplied by British engineer Joseph Sankey whose company had been founded as a major producer of metal tea trays. 1971 CITROËN SM RALLY CAR Co-developed with then owners of Michelin, Citroën developed a resin-based wheel for the SM Rally car weighing half the mass of the steel units they replaced. They would be offered as an option on…

“When I was a teenager, our neighbours stored their Beetle in our garage and, when they moved away, they said we should make an offer on the car. My father proposed R500 and they accepted. That is where my story started: my dad bought me a R500 Beetle for my 16th birthday. At that stage, I had no knowledge of cars. Bicycles, yes; I was used to stripping and working on them, especially BMXs, but not cars.” Pierre looked forward to what his first car (and project) would entail and all the places it would eventually take him. “I started watching YouTube videos and learnt you could split the body from the chassis. Two weeks later, I used the tree in the front garden to split the car,” he recalls.…

Porsche Panamera 4S PDK Beautifully crafted and possesses genuine sports-car agility; pretty much the benchmark when it comes to luxurious fastbacks with pin-sharp handling. price: R2 006 000 cyl/capac: V6/2 984 cm3 power: 324 kW/5 650 r/min torque: 550 N.m/1 750 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,40 sec est top speed: 289 km/h fuel index: 9,80 L/100 km luggage capac: 281/816 L serv/maint plan: M3/100 000 km BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé Steptronic A balanced chassis and a powerhouse V8 engine in a suitably striking outfit, the M850i thrills and charms in equal measure. Look out for a road test next month. price: R1 900 700 cyl/capac: V8/4 395 cm3 power: 390 kW/5 500 r/min torque: 750 N.m/1 800 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,40 sec est top speed: 250…

Ford Figo Freestyle 1,5 Trend The newest member to the Figo range, the Freestyle clinches first thanks to its superior cabin finish, punchy 1,5-litre engine and superb ride quality. Not as well specced as the others, though. Suzuki Ignis 1,2 GLX MT Now with even more expressive looks, the facelifted Ignis remains as characterful as ever. Standard spec and peppy engine are a plus. Lack of steering feel and poor braking see it place second.  price: R226 700 cyl/capac: 3/1 496 cm3 power: 91 kW/6 500 r/min torque: 150 N.m/4 250 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0-100 km/h: 11,80 sec est top speed: 175 km/h fuel index: 6,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 200/856 L serv/maint plan: S4/60 000 km price: R216 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 197 cm3 power: 61 kW/6 000 r/min torque:…

NAVARA OIL SPECIFICATION I drive a 2014 Nissan Navara 3,0 V6 turbodiesel (V9X) with 66 500 km on the odo which I mainly use to tow my Jurgens Xcape caravan. It is meticulously maintained and has a full service history. On my last trip (pre-COVID-19), the vehicle was serviced in Port Elizabeth from where we toured through the Baviaanskloof and then back to Middelburg in Mpumalanga taking in several mountain passes. Back home, I noticed the vehicle had used 500 ml of oil since the service. Friends of mine with similar vehicles also noticed an oil-consumption trend when towing and suggested I upped the viscosity of the oil. The prescribed oil specification is Elf Full Evolution 5W-30 and the proposal is to rather use the same oil but in 5W-40…

Whether you want to keep your pride and joy’s bodywork protected from the elements while (finally) out for that long-awaited post-lockdown Sunday drive, or personalise it to stand apart in a sea of silver-and white-hued cars, wrapping a vehicle is an intensive process. We headed to The Archive Automotive in Cape Town, where Johann Botha of Dutchman’s Car Care Clinic showed us what it takes to professionally wrap a car. 1. BEFORE THE WRAP(TURE) The first step is knowing what a client wants, be it wrapping their car with paint-protective film (PPF), changing its colour or dressing it with a unique design. Regarding the latter, a few concepts, comprising different colours and textures, are designed and presented to the owner, who then chooses their preferred wrap. 2. PAINT, PURIFIED Upon…

Please note some of these prices may have been updated in our road tests, which were signed off later. THE CAR GUIDE SHOWS: 1. All models currently available on the South African market, listed by manufacturer. 2. We also list the models in five separate categories in price order. 3. There are two horizontal strips associated with each range of models. The first one lists common features and the second one enumerates good and bad features, some replacement dates and possible rival choices.…