Innehållsförteckning för February 2021 från CAR

Greetings CAR readers. As is so often the case after our big Performance Shootout in December and January, the February issue tends to be a bit of a hodge-podge … like Christmas leftovers for Boxing Day lunch. Manufacturers shut down for the holidays – as do we – and new-car launches and test drives are in short supply. Even factoring this into our planning for the month, an orchestrated and pleasing thread began to appear as we knuckled down to work. Page 42’s Epic Drive features two closely matched Jaguar Land Rover products (and one down-to-earth Mazda to keep them honest). The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner in the comparative test on page 58 are near impossible to split. There’s the BMW X50i and X5 M Competition group test…

Custom-built by Californian firm LGE-CTE Motorsports, the Kia Sorento Yosemite Edition (seen here) and Zion Edition are based on the North American X-Line model, which features increased ride height and a more advanced all-wheel-drive system. Dressed in a matte Pine Green finish, the Yosemite is “conceived for high-elevation adventuring and mountain living” says the Korean carmaker. Developed for “stomping dunes”, the Zion (applicably finished in gloss Desert Sand body colour) is dubbed as a desert-escape vehicle. Whereas the Zion is equipped with a full-length cargo top, the Yosemite boasts a roof rack and roof-mounted LED lights. Both models feature skid plates and brush guards, bespoke fender flares and 20-inch alloy wheels, which are fitted with 32-inch all-terrain rubber.…

The slightly undersquare, 1,6-litre triple powering the GR Yaris isn’t only the most powerful three-cylinder road-car engine in the world right now. It meets the FIA’s technical regulations for admission to WRC 2, which suggests factory-built rally-ready “customer” competition versions are in the pipeline. Toyota claims it is the smallest and lightest 1,6-litre engine in production. Unlike a lot of modern petrol turbos, it has one relatively large, single-scroll turbocharger and its responsiveness is boosted by the use of ball bearings for the turbine wheel. It also has multi-jet oil, piston cooling and high-efficiency valve ports with increased angle and eccentric valve seats; both permit faster gas transfer than would otherwise be possible. Its crankshaft sits 2 mm further back than any other Yaris. Its 12 V battery is carried…

JAGUAR F-PACE 25D AWD CHEQUERED FLAG vs. LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT D180 R-DYNAMIC HSE vs. MAZDA CX-5 2,2DE AWD AKERA Celebrated travel author Paul Theroux once wrote: “Travelling makes one modest – you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” In one sense, I believe the same applies to vehicle testing. Evaluating a car on your daily commute and through standardised testing is brilliant for building up archival data but often there is more to be learnt by adjusting your context and seeing what impression a vehicle forms on you between those indefinable bookends of Here, There and Back Again. When our (former) longterm Mazda CX-5 was required for a Getaway travel story out in Barrydale, we roped in the Jaguar F-Pace Chequered Flag and Land Rover…

BMW X5 M50i xDrive Steptronic Creamy, punchy engine, expertly balanced dynamics, a superbly finished interior, and excellent relative value for money place the X5 M50i first. price: R1 690 084 cyl/capac: V8/4 395 cm3 power: 390 kW5 500-6 000 r/min torque: 750 N.m/1 800-4 600 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,62 sec top speed: 250 km/h fuel index: 12,84 L/100 km luggage capac: 384/1 432 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition Strikingly styled, the Velar SVA boasts a delectably raucous engine and a beautiful interior. Not as spacious or versatile as the X5, though. price: R1 884 550 cyl/capac: V8/5 000 cm3 power: 405 kW/6 500 r/min torque: 680 N.m/2 500-5 500 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,63 sec top speed: 274 km/h fuel index: 14,16…

Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1,4 Comfortline A South African staple and notably cheaper. Offers similar performance but isn’t as well specified and a service plan is optional. price: R230 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 398 cm3 power: 63 kW/5 000 r/min torque: 132 N.m/3 750 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0-100 km/h: 12,8 sec est top speed: 177 km/h fuel index: 7,10 L/100 km luggage capac: 216/808 L serv/maint plan: optional Suzuki Baleno 1,4 GLX MT Its superior service plan and warranty make the Baleno a strong contender in terms of value. price: R259 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 373 cm3 power: 68 kW/6 000 r/min torque: 130 N.m/4 200 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0-100 km/h: 10,9 sec top speed: 180 km/h fuel index: 6,12 L/100 km luggage capac: 296/896 L serv/maint plan: S4/60 000 km Toyota Starlet 1,4 XR…

WALK THE ROAD  When Hyundai revealed its Elevate concept last year, many assumed the outlandish all-terrain walker vehicle was nothing more than a flight of fancy. It turns out the Korean auto giant is ushering the Elevate towards production status with the opening of its New Horizons Studio; an enterprise that will combine the firm’s automotive and robotic know-how to produce a new line of intelligent vehicles. The Elevate features a pod-like vehicle body that can be, well, elevated on a set of extendable robotic legs with electrically driven wheels. Along with ground clearance most off-roaders would give a left tyre for, the Elevate also features wheels with 360-degree caster-style ankle rotation for precision manoeuvrability on rough terrain. This allows the Elevate to comfortably traverse a five-foot vertical wall or…

The Project S1 Spyder is endowed with a Chevrolet Corvette-sourced 6,2-litre V8 petrol engine. The mid-mounted, naturally aspirated engine sends 522 kW and 969 N.m of torque exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ares Design claims the roofless supercar is capable of reaching the three-figure marker in a mere 2,7 seconds. Ensuring the occupants remain undisturbed from the wind when travelling at speed, advanced aerodynamic deflectors sited in front of the cockpit direct airflow over their heads and into the intakes sited behind the headrests. Handcrafted in Nappa leather and Alcantara trim, the interior is tastefully divided in two by the centre console which is fitted with a vertical touchscreen. Only 24 units of the Project S1 Spyder will be produced.…

1933 CITROËN 7U ROSALIE While Mercedes will claim the 1936 260D was the first production-series diesel-engined car, it was in fact pipped at the post by Citroën’s 1933 Traction-based 7U Rosalie and its optional 1,7-litre, four-cylinder unit. 1986 BMW E28 524TD The first passenger car to feature an electrically controlled injection pump. The Bosch-developed system replaced the mechanically weighted distributor, improving both cold starting and cruising speed efficiency. 1997 ALFA ROMEO 156 2,4 JTD The 156 would become the first production passenger vehicle to feature common rail diesel injection. Providing improved fuel vaporisation to boost combustion efficiency, this system saw the 156 return an impressive 6,70 L/100 km. 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2,0D Subaru’s EE engine would be the first horizontally opposed diesel to enter production. In addition to the compact…

It might as well have been the entrance to a high-end car dealer. The tall ceiling, tiled floors, memorabilia and then, most importantly, the neatly parked cars all pristinely washed and plugged into trickle chargers. The vehicles are cleaned following every drive and owner Frikkie will tell you the fascinating story behind each one. The collection is an eclectic blend, with a pleasing nod to cars manufactured locally – be it the Chevrolet Firenza Can-Am or the Jaguar XJ Series II – which, interestingly, was still built in South Africa two years after worldwide production ceased. Along with these are models Frikkie has owned before but, for one reason or another, let slip through his fingers, like the 1958 Studebaker Hawk. It took Frikkie four years of convincing before the…

Range Rover Sport SVR A real joy to drive, with a wonderful V8, gorgeous cabin and one of the world’s most addictive exhaust notes in the business. The one we’d opt for. price: R2 654 862 cyl/capac: V8/5 000 cm3 power: 423 kW/6 000-6 500 r/min torque: 700 N.m/3 500-5 000 r/min gears/drive: 8/4 0-100 km/h: 4,50 sec est top speed: 280 km/h fuel index: 15,44 L/100 km luggage capac: 376/1 296 L serv/maint plan: M5/100 000 km BMW X5 M Competition M xDrive M Steptronic Hair-raisingly quick and corners like few other SUVs, although you pay the price with a poor ride and compromised refinement. Lacks the aural drama of the SVR. price: R2 632 258 cyl/capac: V8/4 395 cm3 power: 460 kW/6 000 r/min torque: 750 N.m/1 800-5 800 r/min…

Price: R230 900 0-100 km/h: 12,04 seconds Top speed: 167 km/h Power: 61 kW Torque: 114 N.m CAR fuel index: 7,08 L/100 km CO2 : 130 g/km When the original Grand i10 touched down in South Africa in mid-2014, Hyundai boldly declared the little hatchback the spiritual successor to the popular Getz that had departed four years prior. Rather than buckle under the weight of such expectations, the Grand i10 elbowed its way to the summit of the Korean firm’s sales charts, ultimately outselling both the cheaper i10 (and, latterly, the new Atos) as well as the more spacious i20. A new-generation Grand i10 has recently arrived, again imported from India. Break out the measuring tape, though, and you’ll find it’s this fresh version that more closely matches the Getz’s exterior…

Kia Grand Sedona 2,2 CRDi EX+ An accomplished, solidly built car with a respectable drivetrain makes this a top contender. A big plus is the deep boot where the third row of seats can be stashed. price: R722 995 cyl/capac: 4/2 199 cm3 power: 147 kW/3 800 r/min torque: 440 N.m/1 750-2 750 r/min gears/drive: 8/F 0-100 km/h: 10,9 sec est top speed: 190 km/h fuel index: 9,60 L/100 km luggage capac: 400/1 984 L serv/maint plan: S5/100 000 km VW Kombi 2,0BiTDI SWB Comfortline This model includes features such as rear-view camera, park sensors and LED headlamps but only front airbags come standard. The latest T6.1 version has recently been launched. price: R750 600 cyl/capac: 4/1 968 cm3 power: 132 kW/4 000 r/min torque: 400 N.m/1 500-2 000 r/min gears/drive: 7/F…

“Running in, please pass.” Older drivers may remember the signs mounted inside rear screens of slow-moving vehicles, holding up traffic as their drivers rigidly adhered to the running-in routine prescribed in their owners’ manuals.This wasn’t an unusual occurrence as owners understood their vehicles needed to be carefully run in to ensure reduced oil consumption and increased longevity, while accepting that the original engine oil would need to be changed after the first 1 000 to 2 000 km. Running in a vehicle is primarily about the engine, and the recommendation to drive at lower speeds and avoid using full throttle is intended to ensure mating friction surfaces seal against each other with minimal leakage or rotate against each other with the lowest possible friction.The final machining process for cylinder bores…

+ great engine; styling and finish - gearbox remains clunky The Softail stable of Harley-Davidsons has a wide variety from which to select. Even more after the Dyna models were morphed into this line-up. The name Softail comes from the appearance of being just the opposite, i.e. a hardtail but with a hidden mono-shock. Many bikes from the 1920s had only front suspension, hardtails and the rider’s seat was sprung to give some level of comfort. The latest Softail release is the Low Rider S. Part of the theme is the popular blacked-out look. Add in the top-spec Milwaukee 114 engine and you have an impressive package. Incidentally, the difference between the Low Rider and Low Rider S is that the latter has a blacked-out engine, exhausts and more. The…

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.…

The 1980s: a decade defined by excess. Martin Scorsese’s film The Wolf of Wall Street encapsulates this era to a T. Based on infamous stockbroker Jordan Belfort’s (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) memoir of the same name, most of the events portrayed in this Oscar-nominated movie did take place … Unbelievable, yes, but true. For the now-infamous car-crash scene, instead of the Mercedes-Benz which actually bore the brunt of Jordan Belfort’s errant driving, the producers applied some artistic licence and opted for a white Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary edition. Restyled by then up-and-coming Horacio Pagani, the commemorative Countach was built in celebration of the Italian marque’s silver jubilee. The wedge-shaped ’80s poster car is powered by an atmospheric 5,2-litre V12 and has a top speed of 295 km/h. If you were…

Peccary Leather Driving Gloves by The Outlierman Price: €430 (±R7 850) These Peccary leather driving gloves offer charismatic style and rare craftsmanship. Made in Italy, the limited-edition gloves are renowned for their unique strength and softness. The distinctive woven design is crafted by hand using a traditional technique, known only by a few skilled craftsmen. The result is a product that is of exclusive quality and versatile charm. • Comes packaged in a luxury carry case • Hand-woven Peccary and Nappa leather • Available in seven different colours…

Price: TBC Engine: 1,6-litre, 3-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 200 kW @ 6 500 r/min Torque: 370 N.m @ 3 000-4 600 r/min 0-100 km/h: 5,2 seconds* Top speed: 230 km/h* Fuel consumption: 6,85 L/100 km* CO2 : 186 g/km Rivals: Mini JCW GP, Honda Civic Type R, Volkswagen Golf R The new Toyota GR Yaris has been on the cards for longer than most of us may realise. Although this car had an extended gestation, it’s the first ground-up performance vehicle Toyota has developed on its own in some 20 years; without the help of another dedicated carmaker, of course. To have made a hot hatchback this good, Toyota must have had a lot of help from Messrs Mäkinen, Meeke, Tänak and Latvala when they had weekends off from…

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. THE FIAT 128 Your article on the Fiat 128 reminded me of the 128 bakkie. It was a half-tonner based on the sedan but with front-wheel drive. Back then, front-wheel drive was not yet common. In fact, the only popular brands with front-driven wheels were Citroën and Mini. A bakkie with front-wheel drive was unheard of. Some thought this would never catch on but along came Fiat’s advertisement in the newspapers with…

Suzuki Swift 1,2 GLX Bursting with character, the fleet-footed Swift is the most efficient and least expensive model here, even in top-spec GLX guise. It’s easily the best of the bunch to drive, too. price: R213 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 197 cm3 power: 61 kW/6 000 r/min torque: 113 N.m/4 200 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0-100 km/h: 11,31 sec top speed: 170 km/h fuel index: 5,88 L/100 km luggage capac: 224/776 L serv/maint plan: S2/30 000 km Hyundai Grand i10 1,2 Fluid Hyundai’s new Grand i10 has been incrementally improved, gaining a touch more sophistication in the process. It can’t quite match the Swift for value, even with that lengthy warranty. price: R230 900 cyl/capac: 4/1 197 cm3 power: 61 kW/6000 r/min torque: 114 N.m/4000 r/min gears/drive: 5/F 0-100 km/h: 12,04 sec top speed:…

Shining bright Stand-out styling and a superb powertrain do make this little car shine Driver: Peter Palm PeterPalm12 9 months 6 250 km 7,38 L/100 km + good looking and lots of fun - lack of an armrest and proper drinks holders What is immediately striking about the latest C3’s styling (as it should be) is the clever incorporation of the company’s famous logo. The double-helical gear goes back to André Citroën’s first factory which made ... you guessed it ... gears. Where the bonnet and grille meet is shaped to include the logo, supported by double chrome grille strips. These, in turn, incorporate the LED running lights. The latest trend of a triple layer of lighting is used with LEDs at the top, headlamps below and foglamps in the…

The angle and depth of the cross-hatch honing grooves are critical. Sufficient oil needs to be retained for piston ring lubrication; however, excess oil retention will result in high oil consumption. SURFACE FINISH AFTER HONING  SURFACE FINISH AFTER RUN-IN The left-hand image depicts the peaks and valleys created by the honing process. The right-hand diagram depicts the same cylinder bore surface after a controlled running-in procedure. The peaks have worn sufficiently to provide a flat surface for proper piston ring sealing. The remaining valleys still have adequate depth to retain oil for proper piston ring lubrication, without retaining excess oil which would increase emissions and catalytic converter contamination.…

Would you believe the base Mk II had a 1,3-litre engine? With just 48 kW, it managed 100 km/h in over 14 seconds but cost a mere R11 500. The bestseller in the mid-1980s was the next-up model 1,6 CSL with 60 kW. On the following rung, we find the GTi wannabe: the GTS with a 1,8 and 70 kW. But the GTi was the aspirational model. It was a worthy successor to the Mk I GTi and managed to outpace the older car despite a 41 kg gain in mass. Our very first Mk II test was in October 1984 where we tested the bestseller 1,6 CSL. Basic instrumentation similar to the old Mk I, a plain two-spoke steering wheel and cloth seats did the job. The pre-launch test…