Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 i CAR

It was dedicated to a colour image of three factory Porsche 956s coming through the Ford Chicanes, about to take the chequered flag on the start/finish straight of Circuit de la Sarthe. I had never seen such cool racecars in my life. Resplendent in their blue, white, red and gold Rothmans livery, these were Zuffenhausen’s entry into the brand-new Group C category that saw 34 similar cars line up for the 50th running of the world’s most famous endurance race. Leading the trio was car no. 1 driven by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell. Back then, other than Formula One, South Africa had limited international motorsport coverage. We certainly had no live television footage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, in those pre-Internet days, it was only in…

SAVING A MUCH-LOVED MAZDA She was bought in 1996, a Mazda Marathon minibus to be used as school transport. A few years later, it was decided that an asset is an asset only if it works for you and she started transporting scholars to and from school on a daily basis. From an initial four kids, the school transport system evolved into one taking approximately 200 children to and from school on a daily basis. She was seen as a matriarch for a fleet of 11 buses (nine Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and two Mazda Marathons). A case of brand loyalty? She was always lovingly looked after and cared for, and a few years ago she was completely resprayed. Her interior was redone in 2017 and the young man who drives her…

A new small SUV from Toyota that’s basically a rebadged Daihatsu Terios (Toyota owns Daihatsu), the Rush is set to take on the Ford EcoSport and Honda BR-V. Like the BR-V, it’s a long, narrow vehicle but, unlike the Honda, is available only as a five-seater, and that means an enormous boot. We’re talking a claimed 609 litres, which is bigger than the RAV4’s. The Rush is impressively specced, too, with keyless entry, a large-screen infotainment system, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, sat-nav that includes Tracks4Africa software, a reverse camera, park distance control and LED headlamps. Driving the rear wheels is Toyota’s familiar 2NR 1,5-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 77 kW and 136 N.m. At launch, there will be two derivatives; they’re both of the same spec and…

Ferrari’s twin-turbo 3,9-litre V8 has again been crowned the overall winner at the International Engine of the Year Awards, becoming only the second unit (after Ford’s 1,0 EcoBoost three-pot) to scoop the title three years in a row. Porsche’s turbocharged 3,0-litre six-cylinder placed second, with Ferrari’s 6,5-litre V12 completing the podium. The Ferrari V8, codenamed F154CB (or F154CD in the 488 Pista), has been named the past two decades’ best engine, scooping the Best of the Best title conceived to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards. The automaker also starred in other categories in 2018, grabbing the New Engine award for the 6,5-litre V12, as well as winning the Performance Engine and 3,0-litre to 4,0-litre categories, again with the twin-turbo V8. “With its V8, Ferrari has shown even discerning…

WITH the latest-generation X3 already the segment’s kingpin in terms of dynamic ability, how the X4 could improve that benchmark was always going to be the question levelled at this more svelte sibling. And more svelte it certainly is, with added definition in its sculpted flanks and shoulders, slimmer rear lamps and BMW’s amplified interpretation of its kidney grille. While coupé-like SUVs do remain the niche of a very particular automotive taste, this new X4 does look significantly more resolved and comfortable in its skin than its slightly gawky forebear. Like the X3 and the 5 Series, it is based on BMW’s new (larger but lighter) CLAR platform. It’s therefore a bigger car than the one it replaces – 81 mm longer, 37 mm wider and 54 mm lengthier between…

WHILE the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s arch-rival, the Ford Fiesta ST, has controversially downsized to a turbo-triple displacing 1,5 litres, Wolfsburg has taken the opposite approach. Yes, the latest GTI-badged Polo draws its urge from a 2,0-litre four-cylinder engine familiar to Golf GTI fans. Steadily upsizing from the 1,8-litre unit in the outgoing model and the twin-charged 1,4-litre mill before that, this fresh-faced Polo GTI delivers 147 kW, an increase of six kilowatts over its predecessor’s 1 798 cm3 engine. Sure, VW could’ve squeezed more out of its ubiquitous turbo-four, but that would’ve seen it treading on the toes of the larger Golf GTI … something it comes uncomfortably close to doing anyway. Besides, it’s in the torque stakes that the Polo GTI has taken its largest stride forward. Fitted with…

THERE’s nothing like a day spent piloting a selection of Porsche’s finest cars round the German countryside (see page 52) to remind you of the impressive development path this brand has forged in the evolution of the combustion engine. It also serves as stark reminder of just how much each Porsche’s soul and character is entwined with the workings of its petrol-powered drivetrain. It might come as a surprise, then, to find the German carmaker at the forefront of EV development as it surges towards a future without combustion-based wares. While fans of cars such as the GT3 and GT2 RS will be relieved to learn that, for the foreseeable future, Porsche remains committed to further developing combustion engines, based on models such as the Panamera Turbo S E-hybrid –…

Price: R465 000 0-100 km/h: 9,52 sec Power/Torque: 121 kW/240 N.m Top speed: n/a CAR fuel index: 8,4 L/100 km CO2: 156 g/km IT would be fair to say that Opel has been on the back foot in recent times. Neglected somewhat in the General Motors stable, the brand’s resurgence in 2015 looked promising until it lost impetus with the global sale of the 110-year-old German autobrand to the PSA Peugeot Citroën group. The local unbundling has finally sorted itself out and now running the show is local distributor Williams Hunt, which is selling Opels through 35 dealerships around the country. Since its takeover, we’ve seen the launch of two crossovers, the Crossland X (tested in our March 2018 issue) and now its bigger sibling, the Grandland X. A latecomer…

Price: R629 100 0-100 km/h: 12,39 sec Power/Torque: 130 kW/380 N.m Top speed: n/a CAR fuel index: 9,48 L/100 km CO2: 208 g/km PUBLISHED in the September 1998 issue of CAR, the last line of copy in the Isuzu Frontier’s road test reads: “More stylish than the Nissan Sani but also more expensive, the well-equipped Frontier is bound to make many friends.” Indeed, Isuzu’s bakkie-based SUV made so many friends locally that it it could well claim to have proved the catalyst for the introduction of similar bakkie-based SUVs from Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Mitsubishi. The Fortuner, of course, has gone on to become one of the bestselling vehicles in South Africa. Sadly, for many with fond memories of the Frontier – complete with its spare wheel mounted on its…

SUBARU XV 2,0I-S ES LINEARTRONIC CVT WITH a daily commute that’s recently trebled in distance and the XV’s mileage cap looming large, our long-term Subaru hasn’t been covering vast stretches of late. That’s not to say the XV has been gathering dust; the generous utility space opened up by dropping the rear seats has seen trips to the local municipal tip, while assisting a family member with transferring stock from their storage facility has kept this crossover honest. Again, the XV’s packaging came in for a bit of criticism owing to it prioritising rear legroom over boot space, likely exacerbated by the space-gobbling storage for a full-sized spare wheel. What motorway mileage the XV’s undertaken has been done with aplomb. From the slick infotainment system – complete with traffic jam-sniffing…

AS automotive historians will know, electric-vehicle (EV) technology dates back to the dawn of the automobile age and only power and range limitations saw electric vehicles lose favour to those equipped with an internal-combustion engine (ICE). EVs remained a fringe tech until the development of power-dense lithium-ion battery packs over the last decade began to make electric propulsion a realistic prospect. From 2010, the race to bring EVs into mass production intensified, with even a South African company, Optimal Energy, entering the fray with its Joule. Unfortunately, many start-ups foundered along the way, including that local one, and it was only the big automotive brands such as Nissan (with its Leaf) and BMW (i3) that were successful with their first wave of ground-breaking vehicles. Because of their size and range…

Age 42 Budget R300 000 Status family of five Vehicle type seven-seater SUV Toyota Fortuner 2,5 D-4D 0 to 100 km/h: 12,7 sec Top speed: 170 km/h Power: 106 kW Torque: 343 N.m CO2 : 211 g/km CAR fuel index: 9,6 L/100 km WITH the arrival of the all-new Fortuner in 2016, there are more than enough previous-generation models available in the market. This is good news, because these vehicles are super reliable and will be doing their SUV work for many more years to come. The not-so-good news is that everyone knows how good they are, so don’t expect to find any real bargains. The engines are possibly the most reliable diesel mills in the market, with very few problems encountered. Ask any motor mechanic; they will probably tell you…

TASTEFULLY TONED DOWN The production 8 Series smooth-ens out much of the aggressive styling that was a feature of last year’s concept to present a more elegant homage to the original halo coupé. It features a long, low nose with a narrow take on BMW’s kidney grille and a double-bubble roof that slopes gently to a notch tail sporting large trapezoidal exhaust tips. LIGHT & WEIGHT The 8’s standard headlamps are LED units but customers can upgrade to laser lights. A Carbon Package featuring carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic for the intakes, mirror caps, rear spoiler and diffuser is also offered. Comfort and regulatory requirements do, however, mean it is 30 kg heavier than the outgoing 650i Coupé. EXECUTIVE POWERS The 8 Series will initially offer the option of two powerplants. The M850i…

STEPPING out of the low-slung cockpit and back onto the pit lane, every ounce of my being wants to wave to an imaginary crowd of ecstatic race fans packed into the grandstand at the opposite side of Estoril Autodrome’s main straight. The beads of sweat streaming down my forehead add to the heightened drama of the moment and, despite there being no official timing equipment to confirm it, it’s likely I’ve just shattered the standing lap record around one of Europe’s most challenging old-school circuits. I feel pumped yet completely prepared for the press conference to follow. Active imagination aside, my final-three flying laps at Estoril accounted for some of the most exhilarating moments I’ve ever experienced behind the wheel of a car. And it’s exactly this reaction McLaren was…

GIVEN that I’ve only got three pages at my disposal here, I’m going to be frank off the bat and admit that I wasn’t at all taken with the four-cylinder X250d manual we tested in May 2018. It isn’t a bad bakkie per se but, despite the lengths to which Daimler had gone to stamp its identity on the X, the modestly powered 2,3-litre four-pot turbodiesel and long-throw manual gearbox did little to plaster over shortcomings you’d hoped to find absent in such a premium-priced vehicle. For something with that famed chrome tricorn on its nose, it simply doesn’t feel like a Mercedes-Benz; the choice of powertrain and certain Nissan Navara quirks contrasted with the refinement and performance for which the brand is known. The connection to its working-class relatives…

Given the dimensions of a modern 911, it’s easy to forget just how diminutive the Ur-Porsche is. Parked in front of me, it looks positively dainty, with its narrow wheels tucked deep inside the bodywork. This model-and-year-correct aquamarine colour complements the car’s simple shape. Fore of the driver’s door is a plaque stamped “Reutter Karosserie NR. 55195”, signifying this 356 was built by Reutter coach-works. Whereas about 250 000 vehicles came off Porsche’s production lines in 2018, in this era only between 14 to 17 cars were being assembled by Reutter each day. Climbing inside confirms how compact the Porsche 356 is; you instinctively lower your head when behind the wheel and shoulder room is at a premium, too. However, it’s also inviting in a way that only an old…

SPARE a thought for the premium manufacturers ... Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Lexus have gamely developed generations of grand saloons, only to see them defeated by Mercedes-Benz S-Classes in countless comparative tests. Across each generation – but especially the last two, including this W222 variant – Stuttgart’s luxury flagship has endured with its unparalleled blend of ride comfort, refinement and quality. Some have come close – most notably, the contemporary 7 Series – while others have chosen a path less travelled to distinguish themselves from the luxury-car template set by the S-Class (the quirky XJ, for example, and, more successfully, Porsche’s Panamera). Another vehicle that’s chosen to sculpt a distinct identity is the latest Lexus LS. Previous incarnations have often felt like carbon copies of the Benz – unashamedly so…

Price: R784 484 0-100 km/h: 6,50 sec Power/Torque: 235 kW/400 N.m Top speed: 230 km/h CAR fuel index: 9,24 L/100 km CO2: 177 g/km YOU may have heard of the Goldilocks principle. This means analysing everything from infant behaviour and retail pricing, to the global economy and astronomy in an allegorical nod to the famous children’s story The Three Bears, where Goldilocks tastes three bowls of porridge belonging to a trio of unsuspecting bruins. She, of course, favours the one in the middle that’s neither too hot, nor too cold, but just right. How does this apply to the latest addition to Volvo’s impressive XC stable, you may ask. Well, in as much as this principle denotes the life-supporting planetary middle ground between a scorched ball of rock and an…

A power hike from 373 to 537 kW Porsche’s decision to withdraw from the World Endurance Series LMP1 category (including Le Mans) has one silver lining. With time on its race engineers’ hands and a little leftover budget, Porsche allowed them to discard the rule book and modify one of its 919 Hybrid racecars to go as fast as the design would allow. The result? With works driver Neel Jani behind the wheel, the 919 Hybrid Evo lapped Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps in 1:41,770. That’s 0,783 seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 qualifying time in his Mercedes F1 W07 and a full 12 seconds brisker than the standard WEC 919 machine. Changes to the powertrain included removing the V4 2,0-litre turbopetrol engine’s fuel restrictor, resulting in a power hike from 373 to…

MASS 600 kg CELLS lithium-ion pouch cells NUMBER OF CELLS 432 MODULES 32 CELLS PER MODULE 12 MAXIMUM CELL VOLTAGE 4,2 V MAXIMUM BATTERY PACK VOLTAGE 447 V MAXIMUM BATTERY PACK CURRENT OUT 1 000 A MAXIMUM BATTERY PACK POWER OUT 447 kW MAXIMUM REGENERATIVE CURRENT IN 400 A MAXIMUM REGENERATIVE POWER IN 179 kW THERMAL LIMITS OF VEHICLE -40 to 50 °C THERMAL OPERATING RANGE OF BATTERY PACK 0 to 40 °C OPTIMAL THERMAL RANGE OF BATTERY PACK 20 to 28 °C CHARGING TIME WITH 100 kW DC FAST CHARGER 40 min (80%) CHARGING TIME WITH 7 kW WALL CHARGER 10 hours (80%)…

THE relationship between Red Bull and Renault could not have had a better beginning, as the combination gathered eight drivers’ and constructors’ world titles, 57 wins and 151 podiums during a truly dominant run from 2010 to ‘13. This was a “works” deal insofar as Renault, as engine supplier, saw Red Bull as its flagship partner. More importantly, 2014 had seen the introduction of a totally different power-unit formula with the emphasis on energy retention. While Mercedes (and, to a lesser extent, Ferrari) was ready, it was immediately apparent that Renault had not devoted enough time, money and manpower to the hybrid formula. It was gap that could not be closed overnight and, having basked in the glory years, Red Bull was suddenly short on horsepower and options. Tentative enquiries…

Stirling Moss 1960 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX THE KUDOS: a crash during practice for the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps – the fifth race of the 10-event season – left the 30-year-old Englishman with severe injuries that would put him out of F1 for five months. However, despite a broken nose, teeth, legs and back, plus being badly concussed, Moss would win the very next time he lined up for an F1 race. THE CRASH: Moss was driving for privateer outfit Rob Walker Racing, which had leased the revolutionary new Lotus 18 from Colin Chapman. The car was a classic Chapman design: light and nimble, with a spaceframe chassis that gave it exceptional strength. Moss would need all that strength when, coming through Burnenville Curve at around 225 km/h,…

SMALL J ETA: Nov That this little Suzuki is tough enough for off-road duty has never been in question and now the first official images of the new, fourth-generation Jimny emphasise its go-anywhere reputation and rugged design. Looking for all intents and purposes like a baby Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Suzuki claims the new retro-styled off-roader will be able to “overcome muddy pits, manoeuvre through dense woods and conquer massive rocks”. Suzuki has yet to reveal much in the way of specification for the new model, although we do know it will again feature a ladder-frame chassis, three-link rigid-axle suspension and part-time four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer gear. It’s likely to be powered by Suzuki’s turbocharged 1,0-litre Boosterjet three-pot, as well as the brand’s naturally aspirated 1,2-litre as a potential entry-point…

A1 WILL BE OFFERED ONLY AS A SPORTBACK, WITH THE THREE-DOOR FALLING AWAY PART QUATTRO HOMAGE Far more aggressively sculpted than its predecessor, the new A1 sports a wide track and short overhangs along with three flat slits below the edge of the hood that are a clear nod to the brand’s 1980s rally icon, the Sport Quattro. It’s a resemblance further emphasised by a wide, angled C-pillar and a sloping roof available in two dark colours. LONGER AND BIGGER The A1 has grown by 56 mm and now measures 4 030 mm (the width remains at 1 740 mm). These proportions, Audi says, make for a more spacious car and, despite the lower roofline, rear passengers should enjoy sufficient head- and legroom. Luggage capacity has been boosted, too, by…

# 1 BMW ICONIC WEEKENDER DUFFLE BAG R2 252 Made from premium nylon, this weekender bag matches the executive design of BMW’s line-up. Available from BMW dealerships # 2 AMG ANTHRACITE TRAVEL BAG R2 306 Made of a strong PVC and nylon fabric, this overnight carry bag is inspired by the AMG GT’s subtle but muscular design. shop.mercedes-benz.co.za # 3 KIA BRIDGEPORT SPORTS BAG R283 A practical and versatile multi-compartment kit bag offering excellent value for money. kiashop.co.za # 4 NISSAN WEEKEND BAG R824 Simple yet stylish, this weekend bag mimics the cost-effective, “get the job done” attitude of the Nissan badge. nissan.sapplive.co.za # 5 VOLVO WATERPROOF DUFFEL BAG R1 172 Built with extreme conditions in mind, this rugged and waterproof 25-litre duffel bag is perfect for a weekend camping…

DRIVING along the main road heading north from Upington, in the distance to our left there’s a growing rooster tail. Something is travelling parallel to us, hurtling across the salt pan’s shimmer at a velocity far in excess of our 120 km/h cruising speed. Suddenly, that vehicle swerves left, billowing clouds of debris hiding it from view. Whomever was driving it must surely have lost control and rolled? No. The red-and-white vehicle is now heading at 90 degrees and disappearing into the heat-distorted distance. Turns out it’s Giniel de Villiers, South Africa’s Dakar winner, out testing his 2019 racecar with the Toyota Gazoo Racing team. It’s also the perfect location for Toyota to launch a special edition of its Hilux double cab. Named in honour of the Hilux’s exploits at…

BORN IN THE USA Speedster variants have been part of the Porsche company history since 1952 and the forefather of Porsche Speedster models, the 356 1500 America Roadster, had a hand-built aluminium body, weighed 60 kg less than the 356 Coupé and its flat-four engine developed just 52 kW but could propel the car to a top speed of 175 km/h. FRANKENSTEINIAN FORM The Speedster’s underpinnings utilise technologies and components lifted from a number of its production relatives; for example, its chassis is from the 911 GT3 and the broad bodywork from the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. Pounds gained by chassis reinforcements required after lopping off the roof are offset by a bonnet, rear cover and wings made of carbon-fibre composite material. PLENTIFUL PEDAL AND PUNCH Borrowed from the 911…

Price: R257 400 0-100 km/h: 13,44 sec Power/Torque: 66 kW/140 N.m Top speed: 170 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,12 L/100 km CO2: 115 g/km IT’S taken a while but eight years after its predecessor was launched here, the fifth-generation (K14) Nissan Micra has arrived in South Africa. It’s a hatchback first revealed to the world in October 2016 at the Paris Motor Show, followed by its European-market introduction in March last year. It’s also a vehicle that shares its underpinnings with another one familiar to South Africans, the Renault Clio. That is by no means a bad thing; the Clio’s chassis is one of its strong selling points. While the platform may be familiar, the design certainly isn’t. The previous-generation Micra – unlike the funky, bug-eyed first iteration that was…

ALFA ROMEO GIULIA SUPER ALFA Romeo still suffers something of a divisive reputation in our market. On the one side are those with a fierce emotional attachment to the badge; often old faithfuls who’ve been driving Alfas since the glory days of the GTV6 or Giulietta 2,0. Then there’s everyone else. They’re wary of Alfa Romeo’s perceived unreliability and alleged high cost of ownership, especially with the heavy depreciation once driven off the showroom floor. These were arguments brought up practically every time our white Alfa Romeo Giulia Super was the subject of discussion among friends and peers. The Giulia’s monthly sales figures certainly back up the market’s apprehension and, even in a good month, the Giulia is unlikely to reach double figures; this pales in comparison to the several…

IT’S been a fast-paced affair. By the end of day one on this launch in the south of Portugal, we’ve experienced the I-Pace in stop-start city traffic, blasted along a stretch of motorway, waded through a stream, conquered a steep off-road course and raced around Algarve International Circuit. It’s an impressive set of challenges for any car, let alone an electric vehicle, to master. Eyebrows were raised when Jaguar first revealed the I-Pace EV concept at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. What about its heritage? What about a thumping supercharged V8 under the bonnet so synonymous with the brand? The vehicle-engineering manager, David Shaw, admitted even his team was initially sceptical about the idea. They’re all passionate converts now, though, because the I-Pace represents the most elegant engineering solution…

Chemical potential energy is stored in a car’s battery to both start the engine and power the auxiliary electrical systems. A battery rating of 20 Ah means the battery can supply 20 A for an hour. The equation is not quite linear but, as a rule of thumb, the same battery can supply 40 A for only 30 minutes. This explains why cranking a car’s engine can drain a battery quickly; the current drain is around 200 A. The power draw is then 200 A times 12 V, which is 2,4 kW. A voltage drop is common during a high current draw such as starting. Most ECUs need around 9 V to operate, so the engine won’t start if the voltage drops below this threshold. It is therefore possible to…

LHAUNCHED in 1963 and sold in South Africa all the way until 1972, the Morris and Austin variants of the BMC ADO16 were the better-known versions of this popular design by Sir Alec Issigonis (who, of course, penned the original Mini). For many years, the 1100 was the bestselling car in Britain and proved so popular that it was also assembled in many other countries, including South Africa. PACKAGING Most of these variants are pretty much standard Austin/Morris with a few extra tweaks. The Wolseley has the smallest grille, flanked by two lower horizontal ones, and, size-wise, the MGs slotted in between the Wolseley and the Austin. Wood made its appearance in the facia, as befitted any British car with aspirations of class. The suspension was Hydrolastic interconnected and independent,…

Mercedes-Benz Bedfordview is a multi-million rand state-of-the-art Lifestyle Centre which is the embodiment of the long and rich heritage of the Mercedes-Benz brand. This multi-level dealership is like no other in South Africa, exceeding all expectations since opening in 2007 and a feast for the senses as you enter. The latest Mercedes-Benz models are displayed on various levels, including the long-anticipated, all new X-Class. A large selection of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles is also available, while their impressive workshop with qualified technicians is on hand to facilitate all your servicing and maintenance needs. Their dedicated AMG Performance Centre, designed to the latest international standards, showcases the most stunning AMG performance vehicles on offer; including the gorgeous GT range. Mercedes-Benz Bedfordview recently took another opportunity to promote their brand’s exhilarating lifestyle with…