Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i CAR

Flying cars ... they were now. you read future-speculative articles from the 1950s, in this second decade of the new millennium, we were also meant to be living in gleaming, utopian cities, strapping on jetpacks and planning our next moon holiday. Only, we’re not. The future, as it turns out, is never quite The Future. Which is why all this talk about “the death of the car as we know it” has me rolling my eyes. The media is awash with talk of autonomous driving, personal mobility and electric vehicles as imminent technologies that are about to change our very notion of personal transport. There have been recent announcements from the governments of the United Kingdom and France banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2040 (the UK…

THE PROJECT ENGINEERS ARE AIMING FOR A 1:1 POWER-TO-MASS RATIO COSWORTH CLOUT A mid-mounted, 6,5-litre Cosworth-developed V12 engine mated with a Ricardo-developed seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission has been earmarked for the 1 030 kg Valkyrie. With project engineers aiming for a 1:1 power-to-mass ratio (hp to kg), an output in the region of 745 kW is expected. DOWNFORCE OF NATURE The massive Venturi tunnels flanking the cockpit floor are a production car first and will combine with the diffuser to develop a staggering 1 814 kg of downforce. KERS INCURSION? The V12 could be coupled with an F1-derived Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) developed by Croatian electric supercar manufacturer Rimac, potentially boosting overall power to 843 kW. LAP TIMES, NOT DRAG RACING According to Aston Martin vice president, David King, the…

ETA: Q3 2018 MINIMALIST CABIN & MAXIMUM TECH In lieu of ancillary hardpoints and buttons, the A8’s smooth-skinned, minimalist dash houses touchscreen controls with haptic feedback, a full-HD digital instrument cluster and a flush-fitting 10,5-inch central infotainment screen. Audi says there are 41 different driver-assistance systems, including a smart navigation system with a self-learning function. The A8 L’s rear seats also provide various heating/cooling and massaging functions as well as a footrest that also includes foot massaging. CUTTING-EDGE LASERS Among the plethora of systems is autopilot. Using a laser scanner, radar and other sensors, the system provides complete autonomy under 60 km/h as well as smartphone-controlled automated parking. Lasers also feature within the HD Matrix LED high-beam headlamps, effectively doubling the range of high beams at speeds above 70 km/h.…

AUDI Q5 2,0T FSI SPORT QUATTRO S TRONIC PRICE: R797 500 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE FROM its launch in 2008, the first-generation Q5 sold in excess of 1,6 million units. Locally, Audi South Africa shifted 11 300 units from the model’s introduction in 2009. Clearly, the Q5 is crucial to the company’s global sales success and financial wellbeing, especially with local sales volumes having taken a knock in the last couple of years and a national dealer dispute in China which saw the brand lose substantial market share there earlier this year. The fact that Mercedes-Benz launched the GLC to widespread acclaim and commercial success in this segment has not helped matters, either. However, with the new Q5, the German brand is confident buyers will once again turn their…

RENAULT DUSTER 1,5 dCi DYNAMIQUE 4x2 EDC PRICE: R299 990 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE FROM its introduction to our market in 2013, the Renault Duster has been a hit. With a winning formula of space, rugged good looks and excellent value, the French/Romanian SUV has hit the bull’s-eye among South Africans with over 12 000 units finding buyers here. A classy facelift in 2016 further helped sales, with more sophisticated and modern headlamps, elegant satin-chrome elements both inside and out, a redesigned facia and console, and new black alloys. In Dynamique spec, this Duster has a seven-inch touchscreen system with satnav, rear parking sensors and camera, leather steering wheel and gear knob, as well as ESP with traction control. The screen is a great feature at this price but…

Utterly ridiculous but, from the captain’s chair, irresistible Sudhir Matai Refined, regal and imposing; there’s nothing even comes close to matching a Rolls-Royce Steve Smith Enchanting, but so too is a Benz S500 Cab at R2,3m Terence Steenkamp Est price: R7 000 000 0-100 km/h: 4,99 sec Power/Torque: 420 kW/820 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 17,04 L/100 km CO2: 330 g/km Let’s get one – usually crucial – criteria out the way first: the price. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, as our Match-up opposite glaringly indicates, there is not a single vehicle on offer in South Africa that is even in the same ballpark as the Dawn. The closest two luxury convertibles available are the Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet at a mere R3,4 million and the…

HYUNDAI CRETA 1,6 CRDi EXECUTIVE AT WHAT better way to test the competency of a light crossover than task it with the ferrying of a small family (and the obligatory week’s worth of luggage) on a short getaway to the Breede River Valley? That’s exactly what we did and the Creta handled the trip admirably. With a bulky, Isofix-equipped child seat occupying plenty of space in the rear quarters, the luggage compartment was forced to house all of the holiday’s trappings, from bags of books and myriad unwieldy toys to suitcases crammed full of things we’d likely never need. To our surprise, we managed to squeeze in the whole lot without resorting to tossing aside the parcel shelf. Despite being weighed down by the aforementioned gubbins, the Creta proved an…

DEATH OF ICE? The automotive landscape is changing and the internal-combustion engine (ICE) is under threat. France has announced that the sale of any vehicle equipped with an ICE will be banned from 2040, despite hybrids accounting for total sales of only 3,5% and EV for just 1,5% in the European country. In the same vein, Volvo has announced that all its vehicles launched by 2019 will feature an electric motor (in a hybrid or pure electric application). If this trend catches on quickly, most new cars sold in 10 years will be electrified. WIRELESS CHARGING FEASIBLE? The dream of wireless charging is not new, but low efficiency and cost have hampered any real progress in the field ... until now. Continental is adamant it’s found a way to increase…

KIA PICANTO Priced from R134 995 Kia Motors South Africa added its new Picanto to local listings. The model bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor, yet comes across as somewhat more edgy and modern. With the all-new turbocharged 1,0-litre engine not yet available for our market, South Africa-bound Picanto models remain powered by the same naturally aspirated 1,0-litre three-cylinder and 1,2-litre four-cylinder engines from the previous range. Oddly, both powertrains are a little down on power compared with their respective predessors. The 1,0-litre now delivers 49 kW, while the 1,2-litre has been lowered to 61 kW from 65. Compensating for this adjustment is slightly more torque from both mills. The 1,0 delivers 95 N.m, with the 1,2-litre up to 122 N.m. In the end, neither model’s claimed 0-100 km/h…

Age 50 Budget R250 000 Status second family vehicle Vehicle type flashy large SUV REQUIREMENTS Instead of buying a Toyota Corolla Quest or a VW Polo with just three cylinders, our shopper wants something interesting to park next to the family’s main vehicle. They’re looking for a large SUV that will not only make an impression, but also be ready for a gravel adventure. THE VEHICLE We’ve included three high-status SUVs: two from America and a German. The buyer doesn’t do much mileage, so would be happy with petrol power in the hope that maintenance costs will be more affordable than on a high-kilometre diesel. Hummer H3 Adventure AT 0 to 100 km/h: 10,52 sec Top speed: 156 km/h Power: 180 kW Torque: 328 N.m CO2 : 342 g/km CAR fuel…

HOT HYUNDAI i30 N With input from Hyundai’s N motorsport division, the usually mild-mannered Hyundai i30 will now take a tilt at the hot hatch market. With 184 kW (202 kW with the performance pack) and 353 N.m channelled to the front wheels via a six-speed manual ‘box, the i30 N will sprint to 100 km/h in 6,4 seconds (6,1 with the performance pack) and max out at 250 km/h. In addition to go-faster cosmetic accoutrements, the N will also feature an electronic limited-slip differential, electronically overseen suspension, launch control, five-mode drive selector, variable-mode sports exhaust (performance pack) and ESP that can be completely disengaged. ETA: Under consideration for our market HOTTER VOLVO XC60 T8 POLESTAR OPTIMISATION Volvo’s performance arm has announced a Polestar optimisation package that tunes aspects of…

The all-new, eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom has officially been unveiled, some 13 years after the outgoing model debuted. Underpinned by a scalable, new aluminium platform that’s set to form the foundation of the Project Cullinan SUV and next generations of the Ghost, Wraith and Dawn, the Phantom features new double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear setup, as well as four-wheel steering. Bucking the ever-growing car trend, the standard-wheelbase Phantom is 80 mm shorter than its predecessor at 5 762 mm. It is, however, 29 mm wider and 8 mm taller than before. Power is provided by a 6,75-litre twin-turbo V12, with 420 kW and 900 N.m. The Phantom is good for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 5,3 seconds. Rolls-Royce has also gone to great lengths to render the…

# 1 TORINO LAMBORGHINI STAND BAG R6 600 Designed in collaboration with Honma Golf, this Lambo-branded unit boasts seven internal separators to keep your clubs safe. Available at lamborghini.it # 2 JAGUAR F-TYPE GOLF BAG R2 410 Styled to match the two-door Jaguar’s sleek design, this option features a rain cover, towel hook attachment and harness. # 3 BMW GOLFSPORT CARRY BAG R3 485 Aqua technology with removable rain cover, waterproof zips and stitching keep your equipment dry. # 4 MERCEDES-BENZ GOLF STAND BAG R1 683 A well-priced bag featuring a padded membrane to keep your clubs from getting damaged in transit. # 5 AUDI SPORT GOLF BAG R3 900 This TaylorMade bag has a dry mass of 2,66 kg and an ergonomic four-point shoulder strap. # 6 PORSCHE GOLF…

1 The most crucial addition inside comes in the form of the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with Sync 3. Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the setup includes AppLink that allows voice control of apps and pinch-and-swipe functionality. The display is crystal clear, not always a given in this vehicle segment. 2 To develop the Fiesta’s optional 10-speaker B&O PLAY sound system, the engineers spent a year listening to more than 5 000 tracks to ensure the 675 W setup sounds great whether enjoying Adele, Foo Fighters or Jay-Z, or chilling out to classical music. 3 Robot buttocks sat in the Fiesta’s seats 25 000 times to prove their durability, while Ford checked the seat material for flexibility and comfort after it was exposed to a temperature of…

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY Si6 HSE LUXURY PRICE: R1 350 310 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE BOTH very different and very familiar would accurately describe Land Rover’s fifth-generation Discovery. In looks, it is indeed a significantly different vehicle to its predecessor – there’s still a hint of that trademark stepped roof and meaty C-pillar – but both in profile and nose, it’s a dead ringer for its sibling, the Range Rover Sport. While the Rangey has its emphasis more on road-biased luxury, the Discovery has always been about off-road adventure prowess, with more sophisticated 4x4 abilities. Our press steed was the 250 kW/450 N.m supercharged petrol Si6 HSE Luxury that delivers its power to all four wheels via a ZF-sourced eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. There are four trim levels – S,…

Porsche Cayenne V6 Tiptronic, 2008, grey, 187 000 km, R210 000 Porsche Cayenne V6 Tiptronic, 2009, green, 264 500 km, R219 000 Hummer H3 3,6 V6 AT Luxury, 2009, white, 208 000 km, R170 000 Hummer H3, 3,6 V6 manual, 2009, blue, 101 000 km, R240 000 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3,7 Laredo, 2010, silver, 96 500 km, R199 900 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3,7 Laredo, 2010, black, 143 000 km, R159 900…

15 ’17 Alfa Romeo Giulia QV 1:22,60 35 ’17 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S 1:24,60 55 ’15 Honda Civic Type R 1:26,30 76 ’17 BMW M140i Sport Steptronic 1:27,80 94 ’17 Audi S3 Sedan Quattro S tronic 1:29,30 95 ’16 Volvo S60 T6 AWD Polestar 1:29,36 106 ’17 Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy 1:30,90 125 ’15 Range Rover Sport SVR 1:32,26 128 ’13 Ford Fiesta 1,6 EcoBoost ST 1:32,80 WINTER months are the best ... for track testing, that is. Almost all hot hatches and sportscars are turbocharged these days and accordingly benefit from the cold air. Looking at the 16° C indicated on the Fiesta ST200’s information screen, the odds favoured it clocking a faster time than the base model’s from four years ago. Power delivery from the 1,6-litre…

THE 1903 SPYKER 60 HP This car was so far ahead of the game, it’s scarcely believable. Not only was this racecar the first vehicle with a mechanical 4WD (transfer case and drive shafts) but, remarkably, it also boasted the first-ever six-cylinder motor and was the first car to feature brakes fitted to all four wheels. What you are looking at here is a genuine milestone in automotive history. Spyker was founded in 1898 when brothers Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker, coachbuilders in Amsterdam, began constructing Benz-engined vehicles of high quality. They had registered their business under the name Spyker – written with a “Y” for easier recognition in foreign markets – and, by 1901, they were looking to build their own engines, too. After hiring young Belgian engineer Joseph Valentin…

With the release of its second-ever SUV model, Jaguar looks set to take the fight to the likes of such premium rivals as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA and Mini Countryman. The E-Pace draws aesthetic inspiration from its bigger brother, the F-Pace, and the firm’s F-Type sportscar, most noticeably in the form of those rear haunches and slim-line brakelamp arrays. Jaguar claims the E-Pace will be “one of the most connected and intelligent vehicles in its class”, featuring a next-generation touchscreen infotainment system, five USB ports as well as a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices and the brand’s wearable Activity Key. It’s also the first Jaguar to feature the company’s next-generation TFT head-up display. In addition, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system will be standard, while…

THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR WATCHING A CHIRON BEING FOLLOWED BY A GT AND THEN A GT2 RS MY early-bird-catches-thecrowd-free-supercardisplays plan appears an inspired one. With 2 km remaining of my voluntary 06h00 walk from our overnight accomodation to the entrance of Lord March’s Goodwood estate, I’m catching up with the choked automotive traffic heading in the same direction. This is no ordinary congestion, though, and even at this early stage of the day, there’s a palpable level of excitement surrounding an event that has quickly established itself as a pinnacle annual experience for many of the world’s motoring enthusiasts. Closer to the entrance, a single line of traffic is neatly directed into a makeshift meadow parking area like an endless strand of wool being fed into a sewing…

PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO SPORT TURISMO PRICE: R2 522 000 ETA: Now WE ARE HERE IT’S amazing how things can change in the space of 15 years. Prior to 2002, mobile phones were mainly used for actually phoning folks; Twitter was for the birds; and Porsche’s model line-up was firmly entrenched in flat-six, two-door sportscar territory. Then the Cayenne arrived, sending the SUV brigade into raptures and Porsche’s purists glaring reproachfully over the rims of their Philippe Starck glasses and pondering just what the Stuttgart sportscar maker was thinking. Fast-forward to 2017 – a compact SUV, fastback sedan and a flat-four engine later – and the launch of a sports wagon should hardly elicit so much as a raised eyebrow from even the firm’s most ardent supporters. Except that in the…

MERCEDES-BENZ S560 9G-TRONIC PRICE: TBC ETA: Q1 2018 WE ARE HERE SOME 32 years ago, Mercedes-Benz removed the covers from the 560 SEL; a car with a 220 kW 5,5-litre V8 that, at the time, represented the epitome of Benz luxury, power and technology. Fast-forward to today and the badge has been revived as part of the facelifted S-Class range that sees the S500 and its turbocharged 5,5-litre V8 replaced by this new S560 sporting an AMG-derived biturbo 4,0-litre V8. Before we get to the new powerplant, though, let’s first run through some of the key cosmetic alterations. These include revised front and rear aprons, which also house the redesigned grille and head- and taillamp clusters, as well as chromed exhaust tailpieces. Changes to the interior include a double digital…

“Gumtree has over 1000 dealerships and professional traders on the site, with top quality pre-owned and new cars – we wanted to bring the stock to life.” South Africa’s largest classifieds site Gumtree.co.za has upped their automotive marketing game, following record traffic numbers to their car category. “We’ve always had petrol in our veins and we wanted to really showcase the variety and quality of cars on our site,” says Jeff Osborne, Head of Gumtree Automotive. The site kicked off their campaign by having several car ads come to life off-screen at two large Johannesburg-based malls. Two containers were modified to resemble Gumtree adverts and featured cars for sale on the site. The site also sponsored the traffic reports on several leading local radio stations. “Gumtree has over 1000 dealerships…

THIS Soul had it all to lose. Kia’s light crossover range has won its Top 12 Best Buys Light SUV/Crossover category before and is the current runner-up. Would spending 12 months in CAR’s long-term fleet sully that exemplary record? After all, spending a year behind the wheel of a vehicle in various scenarios, having a wide range of friends, family and colleagues on board, while also raking up 20 000 km is a very different kettle of fish to our standard two-week road-test procedure. Our Kia is the top-of-range 1,6-litre CRDi Smart. This means it develops a round 100 kW and 300 N.m that’s transferred to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Furthermore, the cabin of the Smart variant offers leather-trimmed seats, keyless start, parking sensors, six airbags…

NAMED for its relatively low roofline and corresponding swept-back stance rather than the traditional configuration of its doors, the new H6 C is Haval having fun. The spiritual successor to the bestselling SUV in the Chinese market, the new H6 C is offered exclusively with the company’s 4C20 turbocharged 2,0-litre petrol engine mated with either a six-speed manual transmission, available in either a two- or all-wheel-drive configuration, or a six-speed dual-clutch ‘box that transfers 145 kW and 315 N.m of torque to the front wheels exclusively. Haval claims a combined fuel consumption of 9,8 L/100 km with this latter arrangement. Cushioned by a MacPherson-strut suspension arrangement up front, with a double-wishbone arrangement aft, despite its sleek name, the new H6 C measures 4 549 mm in length, 1 835 mm…

“Dieselgate” plunged the compression-ignition engine’s future into a state of uncertainty, but new technology is allowing oil burners to regain ground INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (ICE), especially the diesel variety, are under threat. France has announced that, by 2040, no new vehicles fitted with an ICE can be sold. The electric revolution has started and an all-electric powertrain future is fast becoming a reality. Should we get out the violins for the last diesel engine to be used in a passenger vehicle? Not according to Siegfried Pint from the Audi drivetrain development team, with whom I spoke at the recent Audi Summit in Barcelona. The Volkswagen Group, which was in the media for all the wrong reasons, is now leading the diesel fight-back charge. THE CASE FOR OIL BURNERS FUEL ECONOMY There…

A vehicle’s overall competence hinges primarily on the platform on which it’s based. Many key vehicle characteristics are infused in this structure and it can determine the success of an entire model range. Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) unit is ready to launch the company into a future of dynamic, yet efficient, front-wheel-drive cars. SCALABILITY For efficiency, reduced costs and the preservation of core dynamic characteristics across a company’s model range, a vehicle platform must be scalable in terms of dimension and application. This is the case with TNGA and, while currently employed in the Prius and C-HR models, in future the TNGA platform will underpin the Auris and Corolla, too. PERFORMANCE The TNGA platform allows Toyota’s engineers to reposition powertrain components and lower the vehicle’s centre of gravity, aiding…

FOLLOWING the success of the 500 and 600, the 850 also proved Fiat’s ability to build excellent small cars. In latter years, this was further evident with the Uno that was produced here by Nissan SA from 1991 until ‘98 (it was then imported as the Uno Way from 2007 until ‘10). More recently, the latest 500 has already notched up over two million sales globally. PACKAGING The ultimate 850 collectable versions were the Guigiaro-designed Sport Coupé and Spider, but these slipped through our test team’s hands and we have no road tests or our own pictures. They are extremely rare, but we may gather some more info and tackle these in a future issue because they are striking. The sedan is the more accessible and has a fastback shape;…