Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i CAR

Reader Allan Heydorn wins a SNüG wireless charging powerbank and Body Glove Mini-Bluetooth earbuds, valued at R799 and R999 respectively SNüG No more irritation with tangled cables or trying to plug in your charger and finding that tiny charging port on your device. With this powerbank, you are able to charge two smartphones simultaneously via USB. It can reload a battery up to four times by simply placing your device on top of the powerbank. Body Glove These Mini-Bluetooth earbuds are sweat-proof and there are no wires to hook or get tangled while you go about your day. Products supplied by Gammatek and available from Vodacom, 4U, Chatz, Telkom, Incredible Connection, Takealot.com, Technomobi.co.za, Loot.co.za and shopandship.co.za…

# 1 MCLAREN SENNA R260 McLaren’s Ultimate Series hypercar has interchangeable wheels and a wind tunnel with rotating propeller. # 2 PORSCHE 911 RSR & 911 TURBO 3.0 R700 Celebrate Porsche’s rear-engined heritage with this racecar plus classic. A lap counter and pit wall with race-position board heighten the track-day tone. # 3 MINI COOPER S RALLY & JCW BUGGY R870 Mini’s rally history takes to the podium with this 1967 Monte Carlo-winning Cooper S and Dakar Buggy equipped with a functional pit-stop station. # 4 DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON vs. CHARGER R/T R700 Settle the classic old-versus-new family rivalry with a good ol’ fashioned drag race complete with a Christmas tree start light. # 5 FERRARI F40 COMPETIZIONE R260 The pinnacle of the iconic F40, this Competizione spec can…

A PLATFORM FOR THE FUTURE The 992-generation 911 debuts the brand’s new MMB platform engineered to accommodate various drivetrain configurations, including electrification. Weighing 240 kg, this modular mid-engine platform is split into three ports and will also underpin the next-generation 718 Boxster and Cayman derivatives, as well as future models within the Volkswagen Group. EFFICIENT BRAKING An advanced EBB braking booster complements standard 350 mm diameter brake discs at each corner. Offering both improved response times and feel, the brake pedal in the 992 was lifted from the 918 Spyder hypercar and is 71% lighter than the one featured in the 991. While in the interests of efficiency this new braking system does away with a traditional vacuum pump, it is also capable of supporting battery regeneration. CONNECTIVITY The 10,9-inch…

YES, what you’re looking at here is the latest Toyota RAV4 (that’s “Recreational Activity Vehicle” for those who aren’t aware of the unusual name’s origins). As is customary, the next generation of any vehicle is generally larger than its predecessor … but, in the case of the fifth iteration of Toyota’s popular crossover, it’s both larger and smaller. Confused? Let me explain. What the designers have done is reduce the overall length (by some 10 mm) and the height (by 5 mm), but increase the wheelbase (by a full 30 mm) and the width (by 10 mm). As a result, the front and rear overhangs are shorter. In addition, Toyota claims it has increased the ground clearance by 15 mm. The extended wheelbase is particularly noticeable when sitting in the…

Price: R165 500 0-100 km/h: 13,98 sec Power/Torque: 50 kW/104 N.m Top speed: 161 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,24 L/100 km CO2: 123 g/km THE global relaunch of the Datsun brand by Nissan in 2013 brought with it the promise of a focus on affordable motoring aimed at those to whom new-car ownership was an agonisingly unaffordable stretch. Local sentiment for the previously popular blue badge aside, the 2014 introduction of the first Go hatchback, priced at under R100 000 and with the full backing of Nissan South Africa, seemed to fulfil this promise and rightfully had many eager customers flocking to freshly painted showrooms. A closer look at the standard specifications list for the Go offerings – and highlighted in our first test of the top-of-the-range derivative – showed…

Price: R433 900 0-100 km/h: 14,69 sec Power/Torque: 98 kW/304 N.m Top speed: 160 km/h CAR fuel index: 10,68 L/100 km CO2: 233 g/km IN November last year, jaws dropped when Global NCAP released its local crash-test data showing the locally built Nissan Hardbody had scored zero points for adult occupant protection. Global NCAP concluded the NP300 posed a “high probability of life-threatening injury in a crash”. Public relations disaster aside, we have first-hand experience of the Global NCAP testing procedure – read our technical feature on the crash-test programme in January 2018 – and have no reason to doubt its results. Leaving crash-testing debates aside for now, we decided to revisit the Hardbody because we last formally tested one in June 2003 (our most recent experience of the bakkie…

PEUGEOT 3008 1,6 THP ACTIVE AT IN this review, I’ll spare you the clichéd tropes such as “great cars but pity no-one buys them” usually so prevalent in a test of a Peugeot. Instead, this feature will focus simply on why the 3008, by embracing the very things that make it oh-so French, is one of the best midsize crossovers there is (and where Peugeot could improve it come midcycle refresh). WHAT I LIKED Specification: when Peugeot South Africa offered CAR a 3008 at the start of last year, the brand’s communications department kindly allowed me to choose the colour and specification. Tempted as I was to tick the box next to the full-fat 1,6 THP GT-Line in striking Magnetic Blue metallic, I succumbed to innate sensibility and chose a…

ONE of the biggest recent inclinations in Cape Town has been buying water tanks. Not a day goes by that you don’t see big canisters being transported to their new homes to wait patiently for the skies to release that most precious of gifts: rain. The Pik Up has done much more than its fair share for this noble cause. I have lost count, but at least eight tanks have been delivered to the homes of friends and colleagues, and to my own house. The trick is to buy only up to 2 500-litre tanks, as these fit quite easily into the load bay. Any bigger would not work. Also, these tanks are light and manoeuvrable enough to be loaded by just two people. I even transported an open 1…

IT’s often evident there’s a clear hierarchy on our roads and that it’s largely linked to vehicle size. The December holidays again led me to appreciate the sheer scale of the Amarok. Had I been driving, for example, a small hatchback, I’m sure some fellow road users and taxis would have executed daring and rather dangerous moves in my vicinity but I noticed that, in the Amarok (or potentially any other bakkie or large car), all I needed to do was hold my line to deter others from executing cheeky manoeuvres. A vehicle such as the Amarok certainly imbues a sense of safety but it’s a pity not all road users feel quite so secure. Over the holidays, the Amarok proved the perfect companion for various tasks I needed to…

There’s a reason the Dakar is said to be the toughest motorsport event in the world. Breakdowns are common and can vary in severity, from a puncture or a snapped driveshaft right up to complete powertrain or suspension failure. Not all problems can be repaired on a stage but the vehicles nevertheless carry an emergency repair kit which the driver and navigator (now technicians) can use to try and get the Hilux mobile again. The kit’s content varies for each stage (with mass ranging from 50 to 100 kg) but core additions include a driveshaft, suspension wishbone, steering control arm, steering joint, plus a toolkit weighing 7 kg including a battery-powered impact wrench. Integral hydraulic jacks (powered by the power-steering pump) lift a side of the Hilux off the sand.…

Know how much you can spend on a car but haven’t made up your mind which one to buy? Each month, we recommend two sensible options no older than three years, plus a left-field choice. SENSIBLE Mazda CX-3 2,0 0-100 km/h: 9,33 sec Top speed: 192 km/h Power: 115 kW Torque: 204 N.m CO2 : 146 g/km Fuel cons: 7,32 L/100 km THIS is perhaps the mildest of crossovers in the sense that it’s surprisingly sporty and feels more like a conventional hatchback than the others. On the downside, there isn’t much space in the back seats and the ground clearance is relatively meagre at 160 mm. Those are our only major points of criticism. The 2,0-litre naturally aspirated engine produces a stout 115 kW for lively performance, but not…

I’M standing on a dune in the middle of the Peruvian Desert awaiting the moment I get to experience live Dakar action for the first time. Getting here involved a bit of a Dakar challenge in the sense of travelling halfway around the globe, then five hours by shuttle between the capital Lima and the town of Pisco to sleep a few hours before meeting our driver in a kitted-out Toyota Land Cruiser 200 V8 at 04h00 to bring us to this remote viewpoint. I may be jetlagged and red-eyed, but my excitement is off the charts. And then it happens ... four dots appear on the horizon and the morning calm is shattered by the sound of race engines taking a beating. As the vehicles quickly approach, I spot they’re…

01 X-RATED The Supra first wore the Toyota Celica XX badge before adopting the Supra name. 02 GUIDED MISSILE In 1981, the XX introduced the first production-car navigation computer. 03 STAR CAR The Supra has appeared in 78 movies, including the Fast & Furious franchise. 04 168 kW The power difference between the first and present Supras. 05 STAPLE ‘SIX From its launch in 1978, the Supra has always utilised an inline-six engine. BAVARIAN BUSHIDO The Supra was co-developed with BMW and shares much of its mechanicals with the German firm’s Z4 roadster, including its 3,0-litre inline-six and 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines, both mated with a ZF-sourced eight-speed auto transmission. SIMPLY FAST Toyota has adopted a simple approach to drivetrainmanagement, with the preset modes limited to just normal and sport,…

Based on the Golf GTI TCR Concept rolled out at last year’s Wörthersee GTI meet, the production model squeezes 213 kW and 370 N.m out of the familiar 2,0-litre. Coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the front rubber, the TCR is the fastest production-series GTI: it cracks 0-100 km/h in 5,6 seconds on the way to a 250 km/h top speed, which can be optionally bumped up to 260 km/h. VW’s Active Info Display, LED headlamps, front-axle differential lock and model-specific body kit, along with 18-inch rims, are among the standard features. Inside, front sports seats in a new microfibre finish and an exclusive sports steering wheel confront the driver. ETA: VWSA is keeping mum……

ROLLING STONE The 60 Years Edition rolls on a set of neat, 17-inch bicolour alloy wheels. LOUNGING IN LEATHER The sports seats are upholstered in dark maroon Mini Yours Leather Lounge 60 Years trim. JUST FIVE HUES The pictured British Racing Green, Midnight Black metallic, Moonwalk Grey metallic, Melting Silver metallic and Mini Yours Lapisluxury Blue non-metallic. The Mini 60 Years Edition will be available in three- and five-door guises, each with two engine options: the 1,5-litre, three-cylinder Cooper (100 kW) and the 2,0-litre Cooper S (141 kW). It also ushers in these timeless cosmetic extras... ETA: June…

OLDSMOBILE F-85 JETFIRE TURBOCHARGED engines are everywhere, with all but a few automakers applying this tech to meet strict emissions laws without compromising power output or driving pleasure. Back in the day, though, this device was met with lifted brows. Upon its introduction in 1961, the Oldsmobile F-85 consisted of sedan and station-wagon body styles. Later that year, two coupé variants, the Club and Cutlass, were added. Both featured a high-compression version of the four-door’s Buick-sourced aluminium V8 petrol sending 138 kW and 312 N.m to the rear wheels. In 1962, cosmetic changes such as a revised grille and new interior trim were made to the F-85 line-up. The biggest update, though, was the addition of a more powerful model, the Jetfire. The uprated variant was based on the coupé…

LET’s cut straight to the chase: after two hours spent on the rural roads of eastern Spain, outside Valencia, it is clear the eighth-generation 911 is better than the accomplished seventh iteration, both as a daily driver as well as a sportscar. Considering its dynamic nature, it handles road imperfections with aplomb, while the cabin is now more comfortable, forward-thinking and spacious than before. Nearly the entire car is brand new. Unlike previous generations, where narrow and wide bodies were on offer, the new entire 992 range features broad hips normally associated only with Carrera 4 models. The use of a more expansive range of materials has led to the percentage of steel being lowered from the outgoing 991.2’s 63% to just 30% in this new model. There is also…

PURGATORY. That’s not where we are but it’s an accurate description of the South African electric-vehicle landscape right now. Everywhere, manufacturers of next-generation zero-emissions vehicles are investing billions. As far as infrastructure goes, however, there is no “roadmap” for implementation in South Africa. Just like Dante’s poem of the same title, “Purgatory shall produce a patient and humble soul resigned to divine will.” That’s us, waiting for someone – government; OEMs; private sector; a partnership of all three? – to plug us in and make EVs feasible. This lofty thought is put on hold as the world’s media gathers for the first drive of the all-electric Audi E-tron. Our start point is Masdar City, which functions completely off the grid and has ready-built chargers for an EV’s all-important power fix.…

WOULDN’T it be great if there was a magic pill you could take that would instantly give you god-like driving skills? As it turns out, there is such a panacea and it comes in the form of Lamborghini’s new Huracán Evo, which will soon replace the Huracán LP610-4 that’s been around since 2014. Mere mortals are able to have the V10 bull dancing at the limits, and the magic pill is the addition of “predictive logic” software (the Huracán Evo is the first Lambo to feature this) anticipating what you’re trying to do and is already several steps ahead of you in terms of setting the car up for what’s about to transpire. The Evo is a mid-cycle upgrade rather than an all-new car but fresh life has been breathed…

Price: R386 995 0-100 km/h: 13,14 sec Power/Torque: 97 kW/161 N.m Top speed: 170 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,56 L/100 km CO2: 175 g/km BASED on the impressive growing global sales of Sportage models since 1993, culminating in the hugely popular third generation leading Kia’s market-share charge both internationally and on the local front, you could forgive the brand for its somewhat ballsy approach when it introduced the current fourth-generation Sportage late in 2016. Indeed, published tests in the December issue of that year of both the top-of-the-range diesel derivative (2,0 CRDi SX AWD) and flagship petrol model (1,6 T-GDI GT-Line AWD) – replete with 19-inch alloys, chrome accents, full leather upholstery and comprehensive touchscreen infotainment systems – showed just how far Kia’s bestselling global model had come. The trouble…

Price: R590 169 0-100 km/h: 9,93 sec Power/Torque: 115 kW/250 N.m Top speed: 225 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,80 L/100 km CO2: 149 g/km WE’VE said it many times but it bears repeating: lower-end models in a range are often the best ones. Take our departing Peugeot 3008 1,6 THP Active, for example, or a BMW 520d or Ford Fiesta 1,0 EcoBoost Trend. While sharing many of the qualities that make these ranges as good as they are, entry-level models often forsake ride-ruining wheels, mass-hiking additional spec and lofty pricing with correspondingly precipitous used values. Does the same rule apply to the Mercedes-Benz C180? Let’s find out. Towards the close of 2018, the German brand released a revised C-Class range featuring myriad tweaks aimed at strengthening its connection to larger…

OVER a weeklong getaway during the festive season, the Clio RS was put to the test by acting as our chariot along the Garden Route from Cape Town to Knysna. Due to its stiff Cup chassis and anti-social Akropovic exhaust system, I was expecting the drive to be somewhat intolerable. However, Renault’s little hot hatch held its own on the open road, where it proved to be adept at comfortable cruising. Considering we set off on Christmas Eve, the roads were remarkably quiet with almost no trucks in our way, negating regular overtaking. Most of my time was spent using the Clio’s cruise control but, on the odd chance I needed to pass a slower-moving vehicle, I had to place the transmission into manual as the EDC transmission can sometimes…

AS Nicol said, the annual festive season break offers an opportunity to relax and spend important time with family and friends, but it also means an extended period of time driving only one vehicle, something which is not often possible in this profession. The Haval H6 C proved a competent and impressively comfy companion through a series of planned day trips with my excitable children; the only souring of the mood in the back seat was when the parking sensors muted the audio system during all reversing exercises. I’ve commented previously on the ease of access to the rear seats afforded by the H6 C’s wide-opening doors but a further boon in terms of comfort and versatility is the presence of a flat floor area ahead of these seats. This…

THREE hours. Provided there’s no damage to the bakkie, that’s how long the team works on the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) Hilux when it stops in the bivouac after a Dakar Rally stage. As I enter the temporary service area of TGRSA outside Pisco, Peru, the technicians swarm round the three Hilux racers; they’re removing and checking key components before refitting and tightening the bolts to the correct torque setting. It is a meticulous process running like clockwork under the watchful eye of team principal, Glyn Hall. To win Dakar requires luck and driver’s skill, but it also calls for a machine capable of facing everything the desert can throw at it while travelling at breakneck speed. This is what it takes to be a Dakar Rally champion.…

IN the early 1960s, Renault was known for its rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive 8 and 10 models. The inevitable switch to front/front started with the Renault 4, with the “16” models joining the party in 1966. PACKAGING To make full use of the newly adopted engine and drive upfront, Renault designed a clever number of seat-position options, from standard five-seater – with a large boot and less rear legroom – to fully flat for the possibility of compact sleeping quarters. For even more space, the spare wheel was shoehorned into the room remaining under the bonnet in a similar manner to that of the Fiat 128. This resulted in a boot capacity of 350 to 425 litres and a utility figure of 1 200 litres, provided you removed the rear seat. This…

GENESIS OF A PETROLHEAD To some, cars are merely a mode of transport, while others derive endless pleasure from owning and driving them. At 88 years, I firmly belong to the latter category. My first car, at the age of four, was a bright-red pedal car. We lived in Johannesburg and, when an opportunity arose, I slipped out of the front gate and headed for Zoo Lake. Alas, a police van picked me up and took me home. My car was confiscated and I was given a damn good hiding. When I was nine, my father bought a 1939 Plymouth. I was thrilled! In 1952, I accompanied him on a trip from Stellenbosch to Johannesburg and monitored the vehicles encountered. The total was 47 on the entire trip, which included…

IMAGINE for a second driving through a puddle on a gravel road and hearing only the sound of the music streaming from your audio system. Imagine turning the music off and still not hearing the splash as massive 22-inch wheels charge along the wet road. What would it take to create that level of sound insulation; to achieve such an impressive feat of automotive engineering? Well, a full 100 kg of sound-insulation material. And the expertise of Rolls-Royce engineers. We’re talking about the new Cullinan, the ultimate luxury SUV for those who already have other luxury off-road models in their garage but need something with which they won’t get their pants or their dresses dirty. Seriously, that’s a thing. The Cullinan’s doors curve round the bottom of the sills to…

IT’S strikingly sleek and elegant. The glass area is large, allowing for an abundance of light to stream into the cabin. On a fine summer’s morning like today, life is beautiful. The history of why Ferruccio Lamborghini produced his own cars at a time when he was building agricultural equipment is well documented. Needless to say, as with the start of any new product or the first few items rolling off a production line, 350 GTs are scarce. Franco Scaglione conceived the original prototype, while Carrozzeria Touring was responsible for the production cars. Incidentally, they also produced two Spyder versions collectively called the 350 GTS. When you turn the key and the V12 erupts with a bark, the soul of this car awakens. The 3,5-litre is all too eager to…

Price: R596 969 0-100 km/h: 6,71 sec Power/Torque: 165 kW/350 N.m Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,8 L/100 km CO2: 149 g/km EVOLVING from a midsize MPV-like vehicle into a hatchback, the previous-generation W176 Mercedes-Benz A-Class was tasked with changing the profile of the typical A-Class buyer. Aimed at younger motorists and those who had never considered a Benz before, this racy generation of the A was designed with a healthy dose of aesthetic character while offering dynamic ability enthusiasts appreciated. The result? The giant-slaying A45 AMG hyper-hatch and a closely fought comparative test in September 2013 where the A250 Sport was pitted against the class-leading Golf GTI to prove its mettle as a contender in the hot-hatch arena. Milder versions, however, were less enticing. Five years later,…

Price: R419 000 0-100 km/h: 12,93 sec Power/Torque: 103 kW/330 N.m Est top speed: 180 km/h CAR fuel index: 8,90 L/100 km CO2: 196 g/km WHILE it may not have the most covetable heritage or brand cachet in our market, you have to admire Mahindra for its sheer moxy. On our roads, there’s always a Bolero or Pik Up swimming upstream against the relentless tide of Ford and Toyota bakkies, and once in a while an XUV500 pops its head above the flood of SUVs sweeping onto the local motoring scene. But, while we admired the XUV500 W8 model that served as a long-termer a few years back, a few rough edges such as the standard of trim finish and agricultural powerplant often stood in the way of heartily recommending…

AS you would no doubt have gleaned from previous updates, Audi’s polished SQ5 has done little wrong in the 10 months I’ve been its custodian. It’s deceptively rapid, surprisingly comfortable (considering the low-profile Pirelli P Zero rubber wrapped round those optional 21-inch alloys) and boasts a top-drawer interior. Indeed, the only major criticism I feel justified in lobbing its way involves the 3,0-litre V6’s proclivity to guzzle unleaded. And that had me thinking: why did the Ingolstadt-based automaker opt to engineer this current-generation SQ5 in petrol form when the preceding iteration was offered – locally, at least – in oil-burning guise? The most likely answer, of course, centres on the VW Group’s diesel emissions scandal, but it’s still a question worth considering. You see, as the first diesel-powered S model…

HOLIDAYS mean family time and parents would know the importance of interior space when it comes to transportation needs over the festive period. Thanks to its generous seven-seater layout, this is an area in which the Sorento excels. A sliding second row affords easy access to the accommodating rear seats folding neatly out of the boot floor. The rear-most passengers even get their own cupholders. With all the pews fully utilised, there is still decent boot space left, illustrated when it swallowed three body boards on the way to the beach. As our family stayed home in Cape Town over the holidays, we took the opportunity to visit popular locations and enjoy activities only a short drive away. The Kia is well suited to the role of tour shuttle, as…

By limiting airflow to an engine, power is curbed. That’s the function of the 37 mm restrictor in the air intake of the Hilux. We asked Dr René Heise, aerodynamicist and ballistician, to calculate the maximum theoretical airflow through the restrictor using compressible flow calculations at standard atmospheric conditions (this year’s Dakar was run mostly close to sea level). This is then compared with the theoretical airflow through the engine if it is seen as an air pump displacing five litres of air every second revolution (100% volumetric efficiency). The graph below shows the engine is air (and power) limited after about 5 300 r/min. Therefore, there is little point in revving much higher, as there’s little performance gain. AIRFLOW: Engine vs. 37 mm restrictor…

Subaru Bryanston introduced its new home to the public, in the heart of Bryanston, in July 2009 as a stand-alone flagship dealer for the Brand. This prime location offers easy access off the N1 highway via the William Nicol off ramp and is perfectly situated to offer you all their products and services at one convenient location. Owned by the renowned SMH (Southern Motor Holdings) Group; they have built an exceptional reputation using the historic and passionate pinnacles of the brand, combined with uncompromising service levels and customer satisfaction. Their new car showroom houses the entire range of new Subaru models, including the newly launched 2019 Forester. The completely redesigned Forester now utilises a new fuel-efficient 2.0-litre petrol engine combined with Subaru’s Lineartronic (CVT) transmission. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive further enhances…

THE removal of Maurizio Arrivabene (pictured opposite) from the office of team principal at Ferrari was never likely to engender much sympathy from the motorsport media. The announcement earlier this year may have marked the fourth change of leadership in five years but the frequency of such fundamental disorder within the world’s greatest F1 team made less of an editorial theme than Arrivabene’s hand in his own downfall. The 61-year-old’s tenure in arguably one of the most high-pressure posts in motor racing was marked by an abrupt and, at times, aggressive attitude. Communication with the media was virtually non-existent. It has been suggested Arrivabene was merely acting on the orders of Ferrari president, the late Sergio Marchionne. If so, Arrivabene embraced it with a seasoned surliness which seemed to come…