Innehållsförteckning för October 2020 från CAR

“Make a list of everything you want now and spend the next 25 years getting it, slowly, piece by piece.” That’s an iconic line of dialogue by Robert de Niro’s character, Nick Wells, in the 2001 heist movie The Score. It’s one that has stayed with me ever since I first heard it. Perhaps unconsciously it’s how I’ve gone about my career as well … slowly, piece by piece. Although I’ve been in the game for 13 years (not 25, as Bob would’ve preferred) as the new editor of CAR magazine, I do feel like I’m in my own heist movie of sorts. I’ve bypassed security and wound up in the CAR vault holding issue no. 1 from February 1957 - “The Kaptein” as I like to call it -…

Reader DAVID KOTU 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.)…

1952 GOLIATH GP700 SPORT Goliath’s sportscar would be the first recipient of a mechanical fuel-injection system. The Bosch-developed unit bumped up the outputs of the firm’s 700 cm³ three-cylinder engine from 19 to 22 kW. 1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL Along with its knee-tremblingly good looks and motorsport pedigree, the 300SL would become the first car offered with direct fuel injection, a Bosch-developed system using holes on the cylinder wall. 1973 HONDA CIVIC CVCC Honda’s CVCC (compound vortex-controlled combustion) engine was the first large-scale application of stratified fuel injection, a system using higher compression ratios and a fuel-rich pre-ignition charge to improve efficiency. 1997 ALFA ROMEO 156 The 2,4-litre turbodiesel in Alfa’s midsize sedan would be the first to feature common-rail fuel injection in a passenger vehicle. Using a high-pressure fuel rail…

“My dad was a petrolhead and I got my love of cars from him,” recalls Overstrand-based collector Calvin Hutton. “One of my earliest memories was his 1965 Ford Cortina Stationwagon. I remember when I was a boy, he bought a 1934 Ford V8 Tourer from someone in Port Shepstone. We towed it back home and got it running. My dad really loved his old cars; he was a motor mechanic and I did my apprenticeship with him. My son is now assisting me with the business and also enjoys the classics. “The first car I owned was a Datsun. When I finished my national service, I decided I wanted a Datsun SSS or a Ford Capri, especially the latter as my dad had one. I found a Capri but it…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: V8, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 84,0/98,5 mm Cubic capacity: 4 367 cm3 Compression ratio: 16,1 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 250 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 500/4 750 r/min Max torque: 740 N.m Torque peak: 1 750-2 250 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: eight-speed automatic 1st gear/2nd gear: 4,71/3,14 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,11/1,67 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,29/1,00 to 1 7th gear/Top gear: 0,84/0,67 to 1 Reverse gear/low-range: 3,32/2,93 to 1 Final drive: 2,73 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 380 mm ventilated discs Rear: 365 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Pirelli Scorpion…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: three, inline, transverse Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, turbocharged, intercooled, petrol Bore/stroke: 82,0/94,6 mm Cubic capacity: 1 499 cm3 Compression ratio: 11,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 75 kW Power peak/Red line: 6 500/6 500 r/min Max torque: 190 N.m Torque peak: 1 380-3 600 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: seven-speed dual-clutch 1st gear/2nd gear: 4,15/2,45 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,56/1,09 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 0,84/0,68 to 1 Top gear: 0,55 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,75 to 1 Final drive: 3,80 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: Pirelli Cinturato…

BMW 520d Steptronic Despite matching its Audi rival for power and torque, the rear-driven 520d is quicker and more fuel-efficient, plus dynamically superior. Soon-to-arrive facelift should see it stretch its lead. price: R877 002 cyl/capac: 4/1 995 cm3 power: 140 kW/4 000 r/min torque: 400 N.m/1 750-2 200 r/min gears/drive: 8/R 0-100 km/h: 7,50 sec est top speed: 235 km/h fuel index: 5,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 392/1 016 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Audi A6 40 TDI S tronic A little late to the local party, the latest-generation A6 arrives as a refined mile-gobbler with a visually stunning cabin. Not as poised as its rear-wheel-drive competitors, but will its buyers care? price: R919 500 cyl/capac: 4/1 968 cm3 power: 140 kW/3 800-4200 r/min torque: 400 N.m/1 750-3 000 r/min…

BMW X5 M50d xDrive Steptronic A luxurious SUV that offers the most power and torque in this company. It blends muscular performance thanks to four turbochargers with a good ride and excellent standard spec. price: R1 548 248 cyl/capac: 6/2 998 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: 5,01 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 8,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 384/1 432 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Range Rover Sport SE SDV6 AT Might be slower in a straight line than the X5 but the Sport does luxury even better. The modern yet understated and beautifully finished cabin blends perfectly with the relaxed driving experience. price: R1 485 300 cyl/capac: V6/2 993 cm3 power: 225 kW/3 750 r/min torque:…

Engine The 4,0-litre, twin-turboV8 from the 720S, featuring a flat-plane crankshaft and dry-sump lubrication, received a few hardware tweaks to turn up the wick, including new pistons and a beefed-up fuel-delivery system.Warner dismissed the notion it is purely a detuned Senna engine (588 kW) because that unit uses in-cylinder pressure transducers to detect the onset of knock, whereas the 765LT employs the more traditional accelerometers bolted to the engine block to do the same.The sensitive in-cylinder units allow more advanced ignition timing, upping the power, without the risk of engine damage. Transmission This is the first time McLaren reduced the final-drive ratio of its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 15% reduction means top speed in the 765LT is achieved in seventh gear compared to sixth for the 720S. Fuel consumption suffers…

HYBRID SOLUTION? Should we rethink the BMW i3 REx concept? We see many examples of mild (electric) hybrids today. Is it perhaps time to start working on mild (internal-combustion-engined; ICE) hybrids, similar to the BMW i3 REx? Manufacturers are striving to increase the electrical range of EVs. Improvements in battery density are slow and the increased range generally comes from larger, heavier battery packs. The irony is most trips remain relatively short. Yet, we lug these expensive and heavy battery packs along purely for a couple of annual long trips. The dilemma is whether an ICE generator is not a better solution to cover EV ranges above, say, 300 km until there is an order-of-magnitude increase in battery densities. We can save 50% on the mass and cost of these…

It has been proved several times that merely copying what is seen on the surface does not automatically confer performance. Colin Chapman rewrote a fundamental parameter of F1 car design in 1977/’78 when he introduced the so-called “wing car” which created ground effect by principally channelling air through the sidepods. His Lotus 79, apart from being striking to behold in its black and gold colours, generated enormous grip while cornering. Mario Andretti was more or less unchallenged on his way to the 1978 world championship. For the following year, Maurice Philippe’s Tyrrell 009 was a carbon copy of the Lotus 79 … on the surface. Similarly, Tyrrell 010 bore a remarkable resemblance to the Williams FW07 that had appeared during the 1979 season and would carry Alan Jones to the…

I noticed in the 1965 test spec box the steering type was listed as Saginaw integral so I looked it up. The steering manufacturer got its name from the city Saginaw in Michigan, not far from the motoring hub of Detroit. First known for small-arms manufacturing during World War Two, the company used recirculating balls with hydraulic power assistance for the large cars. When other manufacturers made use of the same principle, the location description was dropped. The 1966 Galaxie LTD was fitted with ancillary butyl airbags inside the rear coil springs. These were inflated via a nozzle in the boot with recommended pressures of 4,0 psi for light loads and up to 12 psi for heavier loads. Owners appreciated these but Ford dropped them within 12 months for undisclosed…

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.…

MORE PHEVS, PLEASE I have noted the letters on EVs and PHEVs and I read your experience with the E-Golf with interest. Two articles would be of great interest: South Africa’s current e-mobility strategies and activities; and exploring whether or not a few interesting PHEVs are coming to South Africa. I am somewhat sceptical of EVs in Africa (I have owned an electric Smart on another continent and it is great). However, PHEVs could be suitable for South Africa, especially if the battery can also charge as vehicle to home or grid. Will we see the PHEV Ford Transit, the Jeep Renegade and Compass 4XE? Or the Hyundai Kona which is available both as a PHEV and EV. In the fully electric EV space, is there a chance of buying…

Picture this: dad up front with a Stuyvesant in one hand and vinyl steering wheel in the other. To his left, mum, sharing hard-boiled eggs and cucumber sandwiches, the corners now curled from the heat. Perched between them, one of your siblings sans seatbelt; and, in the rear, the four other siblings ricocheting to and fro without a care in the world. The year is 1975 and the chances are this family is happily bundled into a Peugeot 504 station wagon on day two of the drive to the wholesome Oyster Box … pre-renovation, of course. Not one of these occupants ever felt their soufflé on wheels required bundu-bashing ability – despite the 504’s unexpected off-road capability – or 20-inch wheels. Forty-five years later, the station wagon is a rarity…

Price: R3 899 000 Engine: 4,0-litre, V8, twinturbo-petrol Transmission: 9-speed automatic Power: 405 kW @ 6 500 r/min Torque: 700 N.m @ 2 200-5 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 4,5 seconds* Top speed: 291 km/h* Fuel consumption: 14,3 L/100 km* CO2 : 269 g/km Rivals: Bentley Bentayga; Lamborghini Urus + drives as well as it looks - less refined than some luxury SUVs No great sports movie is complete without a last-ditch victory; the one that comes as hope is fading and viewers are steeled for noble defeat rather than redemptive triumph. Then the longed-for goal, point, try or run arrives in the nick of time, victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat and the audience has tears in its eyes. But does the new DBX represent final gasp salvation for…

(Final) price: R4 220 000 0-100 km/h: 3,55 seconds Top speed: 312 km/h Power: 383 kW Torque: 470 N.m CAR fuel index: 15,36 L/100 km CO2 : 291 g/km For most, the passing of a single second is inconsequential but, in the microcosm of the millisecond-increments of a second hand between indices on a watch face, our world buzzes with activity. Nowhere is this more graphically evident than mid-corner at the wheel of Porsche’s most focused take on its 911: the lightweight and razor-sharp GT3 RS. Here the blink of an eye spans just 200 milliseconds and 15 milliseconds later your brain receives the image of the upcoming corner. The swirl of chemicals and neurons firing that bridge the gap between such stimuli as the pressure of your spine being pressed…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: V6, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 83,0/91,4 mm Cubic capacity: 2 967 cm3 Compression ratio: 16,0 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 183 kW Power peak/Red line: 2 900-4 500/ 4 750 r/min Max torque: 600 N.m Torque peak: 1 500-3 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: eight-speed automatic 1st gear/2nd gear: 5,00/3,20 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,14/1,72 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,31/1,00 to 1 7th /Top gear: 0,82/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,48 to 1 Final drive: 3,20 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 375 mm ventilated discs Rear: 350 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make:…

Price: R408 726 0-100 km/h: 10,92 seconds Top speed: 195 km/h Power: 75 kW Torque: 190 N.m CAR fuel index: 6,24 L/100 km CO2 : 119 g/km Mini has just added the Cooper SE to the range. The first electric Mini is also South Africa’s cheapest EV but, with prices launching at R642 000 and rising to R722 000, it’s not exactly … ahem, cheap. For those buyers who crave a Mini – and why wouldn’t they, considering what a joy these BMWdeveloped cars are to drive? – the manufacturer offers the option of the entry-level One from around R400 000. Recently equipped with a detuned version of the Cooper’s excellent 1,5-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol, we wondered whether the One is better value for money than other Minis. The answer is yes…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 81,0/95,5 mm Cubic capacity: 1 968 cm3 Compression ratio: 16,2 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 140 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 800/6 000 r/min Max torque: 400 N.m Torque peak: 1 750-3 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: seven-speed dual-clutch 1st gear/2nd gear: 3,19/2,19 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,52/1,06 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 10,74/0,51 to 1 Top gear: 0,39 to 1 Reverse gear: 2,75 to 1 Final drive: 4,23 to 1 Drive wheels: front Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 318 mm ventilated discs Rear: 300 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Pirelli P…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: six, inline, longitudinal Fuel supply: electronic common-rail direct injection, turbocharged, intercooled, diesel Bore/stroke: 82,0/92,3 mm Cubic capacity: 2 925 cm3 Compression ratio: 15,5 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 243 kW Power peak/Red line: 3 600-4 000/ 4 600 r/min Max torque: 700 N.m Torque peak: 1 200-3 000 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: 3,27 to 1 Drive wheels: all Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: ventilated discs Rear: ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES…

TRANSMISSION QUERIES My wife and I both own 1,6-litre Polo hatches (2006 and 2009) with automatic transmissions (not DSG) and have the following questions: 1. What happens if the battery is completely flat and we need to shift the gear selector from “P” to “N” so that the vehicle can be moved? My previous vehicle was a Toyota Corolla automatic and it had a release button on the selector console but I cannot find such a switch and there’s no mention in the owner’s manual. 2. The torque-converter gearbox is a joy to use. I am considering the new T-Cross but am worried about the longevity of the DSG in stop-start traffic. Should I rather avoid the DSG? 3. It appears very little maintenance is necessary on the torque-converter…

Finding a decent car at the R50 000 mark might sound like a real challenge. Yet, it could be relatively easy if you are realistic and follow the right steps. Cars in this price segment are largely sold by private individuals. Our online search came up with this neat 2010 Citroën C4 1,6 VTi Seduction for R55 000 with 147 000 km on the odo. We took it to our studio to have a closer look. TIPS Remember to set your search criteria for cars priced up to R70 000, as these sellers may be willing to accept a cash offer of R50 000 or slightly more. Your safety during viewing is important; take along a friend or meet the seller at a public area like a fuel station. If…

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

A tale of an eccentric family and their malfunctioning VW Kombi on a 1 300 km road trip to California, where daughter Olive is set to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant ... this indie film is as heartfelt as it is funny. Inspired by his parents’ Microbus, writer Michael Arndt’s Oscar-winning screenplay features a similarly faulty second-generation model. “When I was a kid, we drove 600 miles [966 km] in a VW bus with a broken clutch. It ended up being one of the funnest things we did together.” The Kombi’s high roofline and large glasshouse made it the ideal car for filming. In the movie, starting the bright yellow Bay Window required a collective shove and, once on the move, a spirited sprint from the Hoovers…

The majority of race reports covering the Spanish Grand Prix in August barely mentioned Ferrari. And if they did, it was in the margins covering the also-rans. One Ferrari had retired with an engine cut-out/electronics problem. For the other, driven by Sebastian Vettel, seventh place brought the faint praise associated with this being one of the former champion’s best results of a dismal season thus far. It summed up a dire state of affairs for a team expected to challenge Mercedes … but actually sliding down to fifth in the championship. Okay, Mercedes is operating in a different time zone to everyone else but to see Ferrari languishing behind McLaren and Racing Point has been a serious concern for the Scuderia’s many supporters round the world. None of this was…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Cylinders: six, horizontally opposed Fuel supply: electronic direct fuel injection, petrol Bore/stroke: 102,0/81,5 mm Cubic capacity: 3 996 cm3 Compression ratio: 13,3 to 1 Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder ENGINE OUTPUT Max power ISO: 383 kW Power peak/Red line: 8 250/9 000 r/min Max torque: 470 N.m Torque peak: 6 000 r/min TRANSMISSION Type: seven-speed dual-clutch 1st gear/2nd gear: 3,75/2,38 to 1 3rd gear/4th gear: 1,72/1,34 to 1 5th gear/6th gear: 1,11/0,96 to 1 Top gear: 0,84 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,42 to 1 Final drive: 4,19 to 1 Drive wheels: rear Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability control), hill start BRAKES Front: 380 mm ventilated discs Rear: 380 mm ventilated discs Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA WHEELS AND TYRES Tyre make: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Tyre…

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/Top gear: 0,82/0,64 to 1 Reverse gear: 3,99 to 1 Final drive: 3,15 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: Pirelli P…

Audi A1 Sportback 30 TFSI S tronic More equipment and space, plus a longer maintenance plan than its rivals elevate the A1 to class-best status. It also drives well, looks upmarket and feels solidly built. Mini One 3-door Hatch Steptronic There’s much to recommend but the entry-level Mini feels like a poor relation to the Cooper which, at an additional R50k, offers better spec, improved performance and a longer maintenance plan. Abarth 595 1,4T AT As old as the hills and as cramped inside as the Mini, the 595 is off the pace. Yet, there’s immense charm in this package with its fizzy 1,4-litre turbopetrol and chuckable chassis. price: R429 500 cyl/capac: 3/999 cm3 power: 85 kW/5 000-5 500 r/min torque: 200 N.m/2 000-3 500 r/min gears/drive: 7/F 0-100 km/h:…

AERODYNAMIC DRAG The aerodynamic drag force on a vehicle refers to the force opposite to the direction of travel as a result of the airflow over the body. It is clear from the formula the larger the frontal area, the more inefficient the shape (drag coefficient), and the faster the vehicle moves through the air, the higher the aerodynamic drag will be. Volkswagen released the aerodynamic XL1 in 2014 to achieve diesel consumption of less than 1,0 L/100 km. It was only a two-seater with a tandem seating arrangement to keep the frontal area small and the teardrop-shaped body had an astonishing drag coefficient of only 0,159. Compare this to most hatchbacks with drag coefficients between 0,25 and 0,30.…

Copying in F1 reached the public domain in 1978 when London’s High Court ruled the Arrows FA1 could have been designed only through the use of drawings that were the copyright of rival team Shadow. The judge banned the FA1 from competing in further races. The situation had arisen when Arrows was founded in late 1977 by disaffected members of Shadow, including designer Tony Southgate. In order to qualify as a member of the Formula One Constructors Association and receive the accompanying financial benefits, the new team could miss only one non-European Grand Prix. With the first two races of 1979 being South America, it meant Arrows needed to produce a car within two months if it was to make the grid in Brazil at the end of January. Southgate,…