Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2015 i CAR

Perhaps they don’t number quite as many as they did a few decades back, but this pinnacle of motorsport still retains a loyal following. Which is pretty impressive given how boring it has become. Even when Formula One gets exciting, it’s still fairly dull. Case in point: the Malaysian Grand Prix. Initially, I watched it and thought, “Wow! That was quite exciting.” Ferrari’s clever two-stop strategy and Vettel’s surprise win was a breath of fresh air in what seems likely to be another Mercedes-dominated season. Granted, there wasn’t much in the way of overtaking but, hey, I’ll take any scrap of excitement F1 can throw my way. And then I watched a MotoGP race later that evening... I’m not the biggest fan of that series, but the season opener in…

PURRING POWERPLANTS ENGINE 2,0 Ingenium turbodiesel 2,0 Ingenium turbodiesel 3,0 V6 biturbo-diesel 3,0 V6 supercharged petrol POWER 120 kW 132 kW 220 kW 280 kW TORQUE 380 N.m 430 N.m 700 N.m 450 N.m All units are mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE Aside from cleaner lines and a stance that’s slightly lower and shorter than that of the previous car, the new XF’s design takes an evolutionary tack. According to Jaguar design director, Ian Callum, the decision to not overly tamper with the XF’s frontal aspect is borne from a decision to entrench the design language in the public conscience. The brand wants its vehicles to be instantly recognisable, mirroring similar policies at BMW and Mercedes-Benz. CALMER CABIN Jaguar has toned down the new car’s cabin, eschewing…

AUDI RS Q1 Audi’s upcoming A1-based compact crossover looks set to receive some serious firepower. First up will be the SQ1 2,0-litre TDI powered by a twin-turbo four-cylinder engine developing 170 kW and close to 500 N.m. Audi’s engineers are considering shoehorning the TTS’s 2,0T FSI turbopetrol into the RS Q1, endowing it with outputs in the order of 230 kW and 380 N.m. BMW 1 SERIES SEDAN BMW’s foil to Audi’s A3 Sedan and Mercedes-Benz’s CLA has been spotted testing for the first time ahead of its launch next year. It looks likely to be underpinned by BMW’s FWD platform. The styling is expected to adopt a number of elements from the 3 Series, while the engine line-up will comprise a range of transverse three-cylinder turbopetrols and four-cylinder turbodiesels.…

PASSION FOR SPEED Nick Mason and Mark Hales (Carlton Books) Pink Floyd’s drummer and celebrated motoring journalist/test driver Mark Hales choose 24 cars that define motorsport, including legendary racers such as the Bugatti Type 35B, Porsche 962 and McLaren F1 GTR. R299 FORMULA ONE: THE COMPLETE STORY Tim Hill (Transatlantic Press) Based on the UK’s Daily Mail archive, it covers all the triumphs, tragedies, rivalries and rankings of the F1 circus from its birth in 1950. R249 MOTOR SPORT PHOTOGRAPHY Tony Pleavin (Photographer’s Institute Press) Pleavin’s book is proof that you don’t need expensive equipment and press access to take fantastic images. This book will aid you in developing your skills. R149 GRANDS PRIX FORMULA ONE Nicola Chandler (Murray Books) An F1 tyre-shaped look at motorsport’s top formula, with sections…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-in Hybrid AWD Price: R993 100 Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, petrol-hybrid Power: 294 kW Torque: 640 N.m 0-100 km/h: 5,9 secs Top speed: 230 km/h Fuel cons: 2,5 L/100 km CO 2  : 59 g/km Claimed figures THE new XC90 is vital to Volvo. You’d understandably assume all new-model launches are important when you’re a manufacturer, but this SUV is the first all-new product that the Swedish carmaker has developed independently since the late-1990s (it was acquired by Ford in 2000). Besides previewing the technology we can expect on all future Volvos to be launched this decade, it also shows that Volvo has enough money to invest in new products and that parent company Geely has thus far steered clear of direct…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Ford Tourneo Connect SWB 1,0 Ecoboost Trend Price: R279 900 Engine: 1,0 litre, 3-cyl, turbopetrol Power: 74 kW Torque: 170 N.m Trans: 6-spd man 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: 165 km/h Fuel cons: 5,6 L/100 km CO 2  : 129 g/km Claimed figures OUR Top 12 Best Buys large MPV champion, the Ford Tourneo, has been revised for 2015 and the line-up expanded to include turbopetrol variants and smaller diesels in this Connect sub-range. One of the more interesting models is this short-wheelbase version fitted the three-cylinder 1,0-litre EcoBoost motor. The vehicle is 400 mm shorter in length than the Grand Tourneo, and is available in five-seat layout. The Connect looks smarter than many in this segment thanks to a bold, triple-grille nose and…

FORD Focus Hatch 1,0 EcoBoost Trend It’s more than just a cosmetic overhaul as the Blue Oval hones its already impressive C-segment hatch Price: R234 900 0-100 km/h: 11,57 secs Power/Torque: 92 kW/170 N.m Top speed: 192 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,0 L/100 km CO 2  : 116 g/km FOR all its merits and distinctive looks, the Focus is one of those cars that seems to undeservedly sit on the periphery of the South African public’s eye. Now the Blue Oval has ushered in its facelifted model, replete with its much-vaunted 1,0-litre EcoBoost engine. But will the punchy little motor and myriad changes, both outside and within, be enough to propel this C-segmenter into the limelight? While the pre-facelift Focus was by no means ungainly, there were some elements…

Price: R529 000 0-100 km/h: 11,49 secs Power/Torque: 110 kW/350 N.m Top speed: 195 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,56 L/100 km CO2: 165/km BETWEEN rally-derived WRX models, a pumped-up-hatch XV offering and crossover Forester and Outback options, the buyer profile of a Subaru owner across the current range couldn’t be more divergent. One thing fans of this all-wheel-drive-focused Japanese manufacturer do share, however, is a fierce loyalty for the brand. In WRX terms, it’s a loyalty that regularly spills onto Internet forum discussions and debates (and the occasional drag strip), while at the other end of the showroom, models like the Forester and Legacy (including Outback) have over the years established a core global following that quietly scoffs at the idea of driving anything other than a raised-bodied, all-wheel-drive station-wagon…

THIS is a car magazine – what do motorcycles have to do with cars? It’s a question we’re sometimes asked and the simple answer is that many car owners, for a variety of reasons, also own motorbikes. Most often, they’re off-road adventure bikes or commuter ones like this pearl-white Honda NC750X (R87 490). The 745 cm3 engine powering the bike actually started life as half-a-Honda-Jazz engine. The parallel twin now has a 270-degree firing order and delivers 40 kW and 68 N.m of torque. This was a brave move by the engineers at Honda and their sole aim was to provide a bike that would be efficient and easy to ride – the perfect ingredients for a commuter bike. The NC750X’s styling is a good deal more exciting than that…

WITH the A7’s 12-month test period nearing completion, it’s time to take stock, plan final road trips and get the car looking as good as the day I took delivery of it. Unfortunately, this includes having a small knick in one of the alloy wheels repaired. Considering the not insignificant dimensions of the Sportback, however, I’m grateful that this is the only touch-up job required. Having configured the vehicle with a light grey interior, I quickly realised TLC would be in order to keep it looking fresh. With this in mind, the efficient staff at the Ryan’s Car Wash workshops in Cape Town were tasked with taking care of the car’s interior. Light materials aside, I was surprised to note how quickly dirt accumulates within a cabin and I now…

GONE … that sinking feeling when you return to an empty parking space that your vehicle used to occupy. But all isn’t necessarily lost. If your vehicle has a tracking device, it may be possible for the tracking company to locate your car and reunite you with your prized wheels. This is how tracking systems work: THE HARDWARE Your vehicle is fitted with a “black box” that enables the service provider to track the vehicle when stolen. There are two types of tracking technologies: radio frequency (RF) and global system for mobile communication (GSM). The upside of RF tracking is that it does not depend on cellphone-network coverage, but it also has a limited detection range. The advantages of GSMbased systems is that they offer more detailed drive logs and…

STYLING WITH A SOUPÇON OF S The most notable changes take place up front, with elements from the new S- and C-Class, especially in the headlights, while the rear lights feature new clusters. The GLE63 AMG boasts a sportier grille, bumper, side sills and 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels (which can be coated in black paint). At the rear, it features the distinguishable four exhaust pipes. CABIN AND COLOURS The interior highlights include a new multifunction steering wheel, while the infotainment screen has moved to the top of the dashboard. Externally, a new colour palette, including Ginger Beige, Espresso Brown, Saddle Brown and Porcelain, is now offered, while aluminium, carbon-fibre, piano black, ash, eucalyptus and burr walnut are among the interior trim options. ENGINE LINE-UP • 3,0-litre turbopetrol: 245 kW/480 N.m• 4,7-litre turbopetrol:…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Renault Captur 1,2 EDC Dynamique Est price: R300 000 Engine: 1,2-litre, 4-cyl, turbopetrol Trans: 6-spd dual-clutch Power: 88 kW Torque: 190 N.m 0-100 km/h: 10,9 secs Top speed: 192 km/h Fuel cons: 5,4 L/100 km CO 2  : 125 g/km Claimed figures THERE was no risk of missing it. The craning of necks and frantic scanning that usually accompanies the search for your car outside OR Tambo’s drop-off section was a short-lived exercise as the Arizona Orange Renault Captur stood out among the gathered throngs of dull SUVs and dreary econoboxes. It was a promising start. The Renault Clio-based light crossover, with its bold bi-colour paintwork, chunky styling and purposeful stance (accentuated by the additional ride height, black lower body cladding and eye-catching two-tone…

“YOU must visit Steve. He has a very unique collection of cars.” These were encouraging words from a fellow collector a few months ago, but I didn’t know what to expect when lensman Kian Eriksen and I arrived at the unassuming Benoni home of Steve Koterba. I certainly did not imagine I’d find what is arguably the largest collection of motoring memorabilia in South Africa. Steve has an indisputable passion for South African motorsport. His house has been converted into a motoring museum, while a 30-odd car collection (there are several more vehicles on the way) is housed towards the rear of the property. And there is nothing conventional about this East Rand collector and his eclectic abode... Apart from the bathroom, every single room houses pictures, race helmets and…

Price: R1 322 540 0-100 km/h: 5,38 secs Power/Torque: 280 kW/740 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,9 L/100 km CO 2  : 225 g/km WHEN BMW introduced the first X6 in 2008, it caused something of a stir. Some people were unconvinced by the precarious balancing act between sportscar and SUV, while even more were divided by its challenging looks. Neither of these aspects would trouble this motoring oddity, though, and it soon became a must-have for well-heeled urban warriors who wanted to be seen. Now the second-generation model is here, dressed in more grown-up garb and, in the case of the M50d, bridging the gap between its standard siblings and the rip-snorting X6 M courtesy of a complex triturbodiesel powerplant. But, has sacrificing some of…

Price: R325 500 0-100 km/h: 10,05 secs Power/Torque: 103 kW/200 N.m Top speed: 193 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,2 L/100 km CO2 : 175/km YOU are a young suburban couple with two small children. Your mode of transport needs to perform daily chores of dropping off the kids, commuting to work and running errands. At the weekend, you like to lead an active lifestyle and indulge in outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking and surfing. Therefore, you’re considering a crossover as your next new-vehicle purchase. In CAR’s Top 12 Best Buys for 2015 (see the March issue), we chose the Nissan Juke as the winner in the light SUV/crossover segment and the Ford Kuga in the compact SUV/crossover category. But what if you’re looking for something in between? What’s the…

ABSENCE certainly does make the heart grow fonder, as I recently discovered when DF 25 VY GP’s keys were returned to me after a brief hiatus. The 86 unfortunately kissed the inside of the CAR garage-door post and had to be sent to the panelbeaters for a touch-up on the left-rear fender and bumper. The scratches went right though the paint finish and, because of the white hue, looked a lot worse than they actually were. Speaking of that paint, the 86 has been picking up a lot of dirt due to the windy Cape summer. I’ve given up trying to hand wash the car myself and have resorted to putting the local car wash employee’s kids through college. It’s become a near weekly exercise. All the time I spend…

REMEMBER the famous car-chase scene from the 1968 movie Bullitt? Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) chases the bad guys in their Dodge Charger R/T in a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback GT. During the chase, Frank overshoots a corner in the Mustang and has to reverse in haste. Selecting first gear and dumping the clutch results in V8 muscle melting only one rear tyre in a plume of smoke and a single black line painted up the road. Why does only one wheel spin? An open differential is to blame, but we will get to that. WHY A DIFF IS IMPORTANT When a vehicle rounds a bend, the outer wheels need to turn faster than the inner wheels because more distance is covered because of a greater radius. This is easy for…

WHEN the first Sandero (sold under the Dacia brand in a number of other countries) arrived, it drew lots of interest thanks to keen pricing and an impressive specification level. Two petrol engines are available. The 1,4-litre delivers 55 kW and 112 N.m, while the 1,6 produces 65 kW and 128 N.m of torque. The 1,4 was dropped in 2010 and the Stepway crossover version introduced in the same year. Interior space was a major selling point and was punted in a clever television commercial. The boot, too, is large, with 256 dm3 of boot space opening to 1 104 dm3 if you want full use of utility space. The Stepway is a popular version with its black trim and 20 mm raised ride height. We ran one of these…

NOTES The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 25 March 2015. Readers should check with a dealer before making a decision. The HP payment calculations are based on a 10% deposit, the current interest rate and a 54-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 = electric. POWER…

Although initial reports suggested that the new Focus RS would follow in the FWD footsteps of its predecessors, it’s now emerged that the halo performance model will be the first RS to adopt an AWD drivetrain. The system utilises twin electronic clutch packs that piggyback a rear drive unit that behaves like a limited-slip diff and forms part of a drivetrain-management system that not only apportions drive fore and aft, but also torque vectoring to accommodate both cornering forces of up to 1 G and a drift function. Power will come from a 2,3-litre EcoBoost turbopetrol. Based on the unit featured in the current Mustang, it could develop between 235 and 255 kW. ETA: Q2 2016…

Mercedes-Benz C350e 2,1 L/100 km 48 g/km of CO2 205 kW 0-100 km/h: 5,9 secs MERCEDES-BENZ recently announced that it would launch no fewer than 10 hybrid cars before 2017. The recently unveiled C350e has a claimed average fuel consumption of 2,1 litres/ 100 km and an all-electric range of up to 31 km. Its four-cylinder petrol engine, in conjunction with an electric motor, has total system outputs of 205 kW and 600 N.m. It’s the second iteration of the brand’s modular hybrid concept, the latter of which can be adapted for a large number of model series and body versions as well as left-and right-hand-drive variants. Under the new Mercedes-Benz nomenclature, “e” replaces “Plug-in Hybrid”. The X5 is the first plug-in hybrid in one of BMW’s core line-ups BMW…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Subaru Legacy 3,6R Price: R529 000 Engine: 3,6-litre, flat-six, petrol Power: 191 kW Torque: 350 N.m Trans: 8-spd AT 0-100 km/h: 8,06 secs Top speed: 222 km/h Fuel cons: 9,6 L/100 km CO 2  : 230 g/km Claimed figures THE Subaru Outback range features three boxer engines, but at the heart of this Legacy – now in its sixth iteration – is a lusty flat-six. It’s the only engine option and there’s just one spec level to keep things nice and simple. In true Subaru fashion, the Legacy is permanently all-wheel driven. This configuration is well suited to slippery European or Scandinavian conditions, but it is perhaps overkill for our market. Still, the the Legacy may just be the ideal option if you regularly…

Price: R558 000 0-100 km/h: 6,36 secs Power/Torque: 169 kW/370 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 8,5 L/100 km CO 2  : 146 g/km WHEN the original TT – one of the most recognisable automotive designs of the 20th century – made its debut at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, its design was considered left-field, to say the least. In fact, the TT concept was such a departure for the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer that many motoring industry observers believed the arresting coupé might not actually make it past concept form. But history shows the first-generation TT became an instant style icon and the second generation was evolutionary, with more sensuous lines and softer edges courtesy of the legendary Walter d’Silva, now the VW Group’s head of design. As…

Mazda2 1,5 Dynamic Price: R199 900 Power/Torque: 82 kW/145 N.m 0-100 km/h: 11,61 secs Top speed: 188 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,6 L/100 km CO2 : 130 g/km Opel Corsa 1,0T EcoFlex Enjoy Price: R216 200 Power/Torque: 85 kW/170 N.m 0-100 km/h: 11,47 secs Top speed: 185 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,0 L/100 km CO2 : 117 g/km ANOTHER month, another slew of new B-segment hatches… If you still doubt that this section of the market is the most competitive one, consider the following: in the last issue, we group tested a brand-new Honda Jazz and Hyundai i20, as well as revised versions of the VW Polo and Kia Rio; before those, the facelifted Toyota Yaris convinced us of its merits; a wonderful 1,0-litre engine breathed new life into the…

AS the Golf nears its scheduled 15 000 km service and enters its final three months at CAR, it continues to be a star player in the long-term team. Besides the Bluetooth system occasionally failing to recognise my iPhone 5S – a common problem with this handset model, it seems – and sluggish pull-away mentioned before, it rarely puts a foot wrong. It’s had to fight harder than ever for my affections, however, thanks to the arrival of deputy editor Mike Fourie’s Mazda3. That vehicle is a dynamic giant; it steers fluidly, keeps body movements deftly in check and yet rides with a level of plaincy that even the Golf on its higher-profile tyres occasionally fails to match. The Golf counters with better refinement, a nicer engine – the Mazda…

TRIUMPH 900 SCRAMBLER Price: R107 500 Engine: parallel twin, d-o-h-c four-stroke, air-cooled, 270-degree crank, fuel-injected Displacement: 865 cm3 Power: 43 kW at 6 800 r/min Torque: 68 N.m at 4 750 r/min Trans: 5-spd Tyre sizes: 100/90 R19 (f); 130/80 R 17 (r) Frame: tubular steel Seat height: 825 mm Fuel tank: 16 litres Fuel cons: 6,95 L/100 km Mass: 227 kg Warranty: 2 yrs/unlimited km Service: every year/10 000 km TEST RESULTS UNTIL the arrival of the Japanese multis in the 1970s, Triumph bikes were very popular around the world. Now, thanks to a certain John Bloor who rescued the Hinckley-based company, Triumph Motorcycles is back and gracing our roads with a variety of good-looking modern and retro models. One of the remade “golden oldies” is this 900 Scrambler,…

BEFORE the German “people’s car” company moved completely away from the air-cooled rear-wheel-drive Beetle platform to the water-cooled, front-wheel-driven Golf, it made something in-between – the oft-forgotten Type 3. This gap-filling range used both the 1,5-and 1,6-litre flat-four, air-cooled engines of the Beetle but with more conventional body styling for the 1960s. In a clever move, three styles were marketed – a sedan with a conventional boot, a station-wagon and the Fastback. The booted car was also called a notchback, the station-wagon a Variant or squareback and the Fastback was officially TL. Naturally, all of these cars had luggage space under the bonnet because of the rear-mounted powertrain. The 1,5-litre developed 46 kW and 108 N.m at 3 000 r/min, and the 1,6-litre produced 48 kW with 118 N.m at…

1 A massive following for a simple rule The appeal of heavy-haul tractors extends across the oceans, with popularity rapidly increasing in Brazil, Germany, Australia, Russian and the Netherlands thanks to more than 50 organisations involved with the sport. Of course, it’s big in America, too. The aim is to pull a predetermined mass (according to the class you enter) as far as possible over a 100-metre-long topsoil course. It’s not easy, though, as the weighted sleds that are pulled feature a complex system of gears that manipulate the mass towards the front of the sled – making it dig into the ground. 2 The most powerful motorsport in the world Multiple engines, with the aid of turbochargers, intercoolers and special fuels, allow for power outputs in excess of 10…