Innehållsförteckning för October 2021 från CAR

Greetings CAR readers. There’s blood in the water. The mobility landscape is changing rapidly – a sentiment re_ ected in the weird and wonderfully diverse content this month – and opposite factions are starting to dig in. It was recently reported that French President Emmanuel Macron is resisting the European Union’s planned phasing out of ICE car sales by 2035, advocating for a more lenient deadline and emphasis on plug-in hybrid models. The European Commission unveiled plans for a reduction in emissions of 65% by 2030 with a drop to zero by 2035. President Macron, after meeting with top executives from Stellantis and Renault to discuss the transition from ICE to EV, warned against setting too strict a target for car companies. Similarly, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer warned the…

motorscribe South Africa has lost an industrialist and a visionary after the untimely passing of the chairman of Toyota SA, Dr Johan van Zyl on Friday, 30 July 2021. Just 63 years old, Van Zyl never recovered from COVID-19 complications in a Pretoria hospital. Affectionately known by many as “the Doc” thanks to his doctorate in business economics from the University of Potchefstroom, Van Zyl rose through the ranks of one of the most well-known companies in the world to become a senior managing officer and member of the board of Toyota Motor Corporation. To achieve this within the traditional environment of a Japanese company is impressive but not a surprise to those who knew him. Born in 1958 in Springs, he joined Toyota SA in 1993 as sales director,…

NikeshKooverjee Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimiser R18 999 It’s natural for every performance-minded driver to want to improve their lap times but long-term professional coaching is costly … and scary (trust us, we’ve been on the track with Deon Joubert). A more practical solution with a one-off cost that won’t have you grabbing for the make-it-stop handle is Garmin’s Catalyst Driving Performance Optimiser. It’s marketed as a digital driving coach. Using GPS, image processing and built-in accelerometers, it provides real-time tuition via audio cues to shave off precious milliseconds and help you perfect your racing line. It’s a portable and convenient piece of technology that will elevate your track-day driving to the next level. Garmin sent us one to review … stay tuned for our impressions. • Preloaded track databases•…

motorscribe *Claimed figures Price: R2 317 000 Engine: V8, supercharged, petrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 386 kW@6 000 r/min Torque: 625 N.m@2 500-5 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 4,90 seconds* Top speed: 250 km/h* Fuel consumption: 14,70 L/100 km CO2: 332 g/km Rivals: Audi SQ7, BMW X5M, Mercedes-AMG G63 + performance; comfort; off-road ability -thirsty; expensive; fiddly Dynamic mode selector Over 20 years ago, I was in a Land Rover dealership in Cape Town’s CBD getting my Discovery serviced when I noticed a slightly different Defender waiting to go up a ramp. Further investigation revealed it to be a left-hand-drive model belonging to a Swiss owner. Aside from a bespoke interior, the thing that grabbed my attention was a discreet V8 badge. You couldn’t buy a Defender V8, that’s why I…

+ responsive drivetrain; agile handling; excellent coasting function -consumption spike from cold start; doesn’t enjoy stop-start traffic Not that the ARCPR in 2021 was particularly scenic as we turned onto Main RoadWoodstock and began working our way through the trickle-like midweek malaise of Golden Arrow buses and minibus taxis. The BMW 330i has a free-spinning 2,0-litre turbopetrol and its only real hope of matching the eco-worthiness of the others here was to simply disengage its turbocharger all together. With 190 kW/400 N.m on tap, it minced the other two internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in a straight line with a sub-6,00 second zero to 100 km/h sprint, but we weren’t interested in acceleration and tractability; rather we were in Eco Pro mode and wanted to know if BMW’s claim of…

+ feels every bit a Porsche in terms of driving dynamics; more efficient than claimed -expensive; currently at the mercy of a fledgling fast-charging infrastructure As the sole EV representative in our efficiency experiment – and a Porsche, no less – a crushing weight of expectation was dropped on the Taycan’s shapely shoulders from the off. Not only did the Taycan have to engage and entertain in true Porsche fashion, but with 120 km of consumptiontesting roads bereft of fastcharging infrastructure (not to mention the additional 60 km stretch it needed to travel to reach its next feasible charging post in SomersetWest after testing for our September issue) so much depended on the all-electric Porsche’s ability to deliver on the efficiency front. Porsche’s optional Performance Battery Plus sees the standard…

Ray_Leathern Do you own one of these cars? If so, we’d like to know what you think. Email us at CAR@ramsaymedia.co.za 2 393 km 9,00 L/100 km + NVH refinement; single-digit fuel economy; the promise of adventure -power is adequate rather than ample I love that sensation some cars give you … the one where it feels like you’ve arrived before you’ve even set off. I think what that feeling loosely translates to is “status”, and in South Africa, climbing up into the cabin of a mooi new double-cab bakkie is as high up the status chain as slinking behind the wheel of a sleek new Bentley Continental GT. After my Toyota Corolla Hatch and Quest combo earlier in the year, this is only my third longterm test vehicle at…

GarethD_CARmag 3 942 km 7,19 L/100 km Nearing the home straight of its six-month long-term tenure with the CAR team, the punchy little Opel Corsa continues to entertain and endear, with nothing aside from its modest interior packaging to warrant any real complaint. With close to an accumulated 10 000 km under its belt (bear in mind the test unit came to us with more than 4 500 km on the clock), the 1,2-litre turbopetrol’s mechanicals appear to have bedded in nicely, with noticeable improvements in refinement and average fuel consumption now coming to the fore. The recent spate of the Western Cape’s winter weather has seen the Corsa’s heated front seats coming into play regularly; reaching a toasty temperature quickly and proving a boon on frigid morning commutes.…

GarethD_CARmag DESERT ELECTRICAL STORM Audi plans to take the electrified vehicle out of its comfort zone by campaigning its radical RS Q e-tron in next year’s Dakar Rally. The powertrain comprises front and rear-axle motors lifted from the firm’s FE07 Formula E racecar. Given the distances between stages, the racer’s 50 kWh battery will be supplemented by a DTM-sourced TFSI turbopetrol engine. Operating at 4 500-6 000 r/min, the combustion engine acts as a highly efficient range extender that, according to Audi, has a specific consumption figure of well under 200 g per kWh. In conjunction with regenerative braking, this setup can propel the RS Q e-tron at high speeds over the 800-odd kilometre spans between rally stages. Audi hopes the findings from the first-ever electrified Dakar racer will act…

SeanParkerSA 26 February 2022. That’s the date South African motorsport fans have added to their calendars after Cape Town’s inclusion in the 2022 Formula E season was confirmed this past July. The Mother City is no stranger to hosting acclaimed motorsport events, boasting an impressive list that includes the FIA Rallycross Championship, the Extreme Festival National Championship, as well as Drift City at the Grand Parade. The Western Cape’s bid to host a Formula E race was put together in partnership with promoter, e-Movement, the City of Cape Town and bid sponsor Jaguar South Africa. The British carmaker joined the Formula E grid in 2016, marking its return to top-flight motorsport for the first time in 12 years after it bowed out of Formula 1. This revival of motorsport activities…

PeterPalm12 Model: Daihatsu Charade Turbo 0 to 100 km/h: 10,52 seconds Top speed: 159 km/h Fuel index: 5,70 L/100 km (at 100 km/h) Price: R9 995 CAR test: January 1985 plus one other Founded in 1907 by Hatsudoki Seizo as an engine manufacturer, Daihatsu is Japan’s oldest motor company. Vehicle production began in 1960 in the Osaka region and the company specialised in diesel mini trucks before branching out to cars; the first, a 1,0-litre, four-cylinder sedan called the Compagno Berlina. Early Charades even competed in the Monte Carlo Rally and East African Safari in 1981 and 1982, respectively. In 1983, the Alfa Romeo factory in Brits took on a project that introduced the Daihatsu name to the South African passenger car market. PACKAGING Despite its diminutive frame, the Charade’s…

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Marius_CARmag The culmination of Mazda’s legendary rotary-engined Group C racecars, the 787B was the first and only rotary-engined car to claim victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans when British racing driver Johnny Herbert piloted car number 55 over the finish line in first place in 1991. With Mazda’s trio of Herbert, Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot behind the wheel, the 787 completed 362 laps (approximately 4 923 km) of the 13,6 km Circuit de la Sarthe, averaging a speed of 205 km/h without any technical difficulties. From the early stages, team Mazdaspeed’s high-revving 787B performed well, setting consistently fast lap times as planned. With only three hours remaining, the 787B took the lead and eventually claimed the chequered flag. On the Hiroshima-based company’s 13th attempt, Mazda finally managed…

Marius_CARmag IN THE LAP OF THE GODS Featuring F1-inspired hallmarks, the Valhalla’s minimalist cabin places focus squarely on the driver. As the seat bases are fixed to the chassis structure, both the steering column and pedals are adjustable. Reminiscent of an F1 racecar, the footwells have been raised for a low hip-to-heel seating position. PLUGGED-IN V8 The Valhalla’s plug-in hybrid powertrain comprises a mid-mounted, flat-plane 4,0-litre twinturbopetrol V8, delivering 522 kW to the rear axle via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Supplementing the AMG-sourced internal combustion engine, a pair of electric motors producing 150 kW are sited on the fore and aft axles. The combined outputs are 699 kW and 1 000 N.m. Aston Martin claims a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 2,5 seconds and a top speed of…

GarethD_CARmag First production car with a digital key Volvo S90 & XC90 2016 Fishing in your trouser pocket for the keys to your car is probably one of the most Pavlovian things you can do but in terms of automotive tech history, the time between that shiny amalgam of shaped metal, plastic-tasting fresh air and the engine rumbling to life has branched out into some of the most innovative developments in the industry. Keys have played a part in vehicle security since the beginning of the 20th century and were essentially used as part of a physical locking mechanism for the crank ignition systems of the time. It was only in 1949 that Chrysler made a single-sided key that could play a role in activating the ignition system, albeit with the aid…

WaynesWorldAuto *Claimed figures Price: R616 000 Engine: 1,4-litre, 4-cylinder, turbopetrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 110 kW@5 000 r/min Torque: 250 N.m@1 500 r/min 0-100 km/h: 8,20 seconds* Top speed: 227 km/h* Fuel consumption: 6,10 L/100 km* CO2: 138 g/km Rivals: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan + top-notch cabin; fair value versus premium rivals -you’ll be tempted by many optional extras; so-so performance It’s been 25 years since Audi first introduced the A3 as a compact hatch based on the same C-segment (PQ34) platform as other cars in the Volkswagen Group, including the much-loved Mk III Golf of that era. Originally designed by Belgian Dirk van Braeckel, the success of the model convinced Audi that other body variants of the A3 were feasible and the first Sportback arrived…

+ great GT cruiser; bested its claimed/combined figure -laggy power delivery; clattery engine Have you noticed that since the #dieselgate scandal, the quoted fuel economy for diesel-powered cars – when manufacturers are brave enough to put them on sale – isn’t as impressive as it was a few years ago? It’s as if diesel’s fuelsaving abilities peaked in the last decade and with the wholesale shift to EVs, manufacturers are unwilling to put further R&D money behind what appears to be a dying technology. It’s a shame really because many South Africans are still enamoured with the great economy and loping torque of oil burners. Offered in either Coupé or Sportback guise, one such vehicle is the A5 40 TDI. Audi can sell you a front-wheel-drive A4 35 TDI with…

IamDamianAdams 1 098 km 6,28 L/100 km + sharp styling makes this hatch stand out; impressive real-world economy -HD infotainment screen and driver’s display seem at odds with the hard plastic finishes It’s been a joyous few weeks with the little Audi A1 and with various luxurious test cars having passed through the CAR garage it’s remained a pleasure getting into the posh yet wieldy little hatchback. Of course, I couldn’t help but compare it to some of the test cars, especially those from the same brand. We recently had the updated entry-level Audi Q2 crossover on test and it presented a great opportunity to compare the two siblings. Sure, the Q2 is the larger car with more power and has the trendier crossover body style with larger wheel options…

NikeshKooverjee 2 432 km 7,60 L/100 km After spending more time this month with the manualtransmission Vitara Brezza and driving cars that are priced very closely to it – such as the Nissan Magnite, Kia Sonet, Ford EcoSport and Haval Jolion as part of a test we’ll run in the magazine in the coming months – I have reached the conclusion that Suzuki’s Indian-sourced crossover is still kind of a tough sell. Of course, in Toyota Urban Cruiser-guise, its success has been notable: 646 units sold locally in July 2021 alone. It’s thoroughly enjoyable to drive with decent perceived quality inside but in the presence of its much-fancied Nipponesebadged stablemate and the vast crop of compact crossovers currently on sale, it’s hard to say it’s the segment’s top pick right…

SAVE UP TO 40% OFF THE COVER PRICE Digital-only subscriptions are available. SIMPLY CONTACT US AND QUOTE 21/12/SP/PM HOWTO SUBSCRIBE ONLINE hmshop.co.za EMAIL subscriptions@hsm.co.za CALL Tel: 087 550 0329 TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This offer is valid until 31 December 2021 and applies to print subscribers with a South African address only. By providing your personal details, you are giving POPULAR MECHANICS permission to communicate with you via email or SMS. For other great offers visit www.hmshop.co.za. For foreign rates, please contact Ramsay Media on 021 530 3300 / 087 550 0329 or subscriptions@hsm.co.za.…

GautamSharma9885 MERCEDES-BENZ EQS 450+ ETA: Q2 2022 *Claimed figures Price: TBC Engine: Permanent magnet, synchronous, rear Transmission: 2-speed auto Combined power: 245 kW Torque: 568 N.m 0-100 km/h: 6,20 seconds* Top speed: 210 km/h* Energy consumption: 20,4-15,7 kWh/100 km* CO2: 0 g/km Rivals: Audi E-Tron; Jaguar I-Pace; Porsche Taycan + class-leading range; superb refinement; a genuine game changer -steering feel and dynamics feel slightly synthesized The “game-changer” label tends to be loosely thrown around nowadays but, when it comes to the brand-new Mercedes-Benz EQS, the term is completely appropriate. Here’s a clean-sheet debutant that will not only spearhead the three-pointed star’s sedan line-up, but also sets the bar for all of Merc’s upcoming battery-powered offerings, of which there will be several. Unlike preceding EQ models, the EQS is underpinned by brandnew,…

Ray_Leathern Petridish_Mooks This test was devised to go beyond evaluating the consumption – fuel in the case of three vehicles, energy for the fourth – of four brand-new saloons, driven on the same route at the same time in identical conditions. Beyond the simple question of which is the most economical from A to B, additional answers we wanted answered were: is the modern downsized turbopetrol as efficient as claimed? Is diesel technology in decline? Does a hybrid really provide the best of both worlds with its dual-energy drivetrain? And, in light of ever-improving battery technology, is a pure EV a viable option despite the hefty initial outlay? We’ll also assess how the driver should alter behaviour to get the most out of each drivetrain in a hypermiling sense. Many…

+ the best fuel consumption here; excellent standard spec -not as quick as the others, especially when batteries are depleted As we’ve just witnessed from our two pure ICEs, there’s good reason to go hybrid these days. Dualenergy cars don’t use as much fuel, produce less CO2, are quieter in EV mode and – thanks to the steady advancement of battery technology – can rack up additional mileage off the battery that conventional ICEs cannot. If you choose a good one, like the IS 300h we have here, they’re subject to less tax because the CO2 emissions don’t exceed the 120 g/km threshold by much. Unfortunately, unlike in Europe and the UK, there are no tax grants or money-back schemes for hybrids/EVs in SA, so a hybrid is not quite…

WLutjeharms Petridish_Mooks The neat industrial complex doesn’t give anything away. It looks like it houses storage units or some type of manufacturing equipment, not a treasure trove of some of the most highly sought-after Japanese cars under the rising sun. As photographer Peet Mocke and myself were welcomed by Shiran and ushered through the front door, the bewinged machinery immediately grabbed our attention; all perfectly parked, in an almost military fashion. A couple of the cars are stored here for clients, some are for sale and a good chunk belong to Shiran himself. As expected, most of the R35 Nissan GT-Rs are not standard. Most owners prefer to customise these cars, some more liberally than others. A white R34 V-Spec II caught my eye; without a doubt, the most collectible.…

Marius_Boonzaier 1 898 km 6,99 L/100 km + striking exterior design; generous standard equipment; capacious boot -no park-distance sensors In last month’s introduction of our three-month Toyota Corolla test car, I mentioned that my girlfriend and I set off for a long-overdue road trip. The journey would cover roughly 2 730 km, not including a few trips to the shops and day drives for sightseeing, as we travelled from the Mother City to Hartenbos, visiting East London, Hogsback and Graaff-Reinet before returning home. Once on the long road, we quickly gained an appreciation for Toyota’s popular family sedan; its generous amount of standard infotainment and safety equipment, capacious boot and pliant ride are the standout features. So much so, the Corolla soon earned an endearing nickname: Corolls. Make of that…

Sean_ParkerSA 5 256 km 6,80 L/100 km + comfortable cruiser; hands-free tech -boomy cabin; sticking key We could all do with a healthy break during this period of unprecedented uncertainty in a COVID-19 world. Mercifully, living in the Western Cape provides us with myriad options to enjoy some much-needed downtime in between the craziness. Just 90 km north of Cape Town up the coast lies the quaint West Coast town of Yzerfontein. I was looking forward to heading there for two reasons: quality time with my better half and close friends; and a chance to stretch the Sonet’s legs. Until then, the Indian-built Kia spent the bulk of its time meandering through the suburbs and happily cruising in the slow lane on the highway. I squeezed our luggage and a…

Email: car@ramsaymedia.co.za (add “Technical” to the subject line) Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 TECHNICAL TIP I would like owners of old 200E Mercedes W124 manual models to note the following: my 1992 model, currently displaying 300 650 km and the favourite in my little stable, developed a bad clutch shudder around 300 000 km. Google showed the American version to be equipped with a twin mass flywheel and, despite advice to the contrary by the local Mercedes dealership, I had them order a twin mass flywheel because I was convinced the part had become dysfunctional. Fortunately, the parent company in Germany sent over a solid flywheel which turned out to be the correct part. I decided to replace the full clutch kit at the same time and…

PeterPalm12 Toyota Avanza 0-100 km/h: 12,30 seconds Top speed: 164 km/h Power: 76 kW Torque: 136 N.m C02: 168 g/km Fuel consumption: 8,64 L/100 km The Avanza became a top seller almost immediately, mainly because it was a tough and reliable Toyota. Well, a Daihatsu actually, but then they are the same parent company. As a compact seven-seater, the Avanza soon found service as a people-mover for those who needed more than a hatchback but didn’t need a full-size Quantum. More suited for shorter distances and speeds of around 100 km/h owing to the lowish power and gearing that required over 4 000 r/min to do a true 120 km/h on the open road. The styling has been tweaked over the years with curves and angles that give the impression…

Notes • The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred on 18 August 2021. 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 = petrol-hybrid and E…