Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i CAR

Touted as McLaren Automotive’s rival to the likes of the Porsche 911 Turbo S and Audi’s R8 V10 Plus, this is the first of the Woking-based company’s so-called Sport Series. It fits below the Super Series and Ultimate Series as the entry-level tier in a new three-rung model strategy. Codenamed the P13 while under development, the rear-wheel-drive, mid-engined 570S has a claimed weight of just 1 313 kg, making it some 150 kg lighter than the Audi R8 V10.This is thanks to a tweaked version of McLaren’s carbonfibre MonoCell II chassis used in the 650S. Weight is distributed 42:58 front/rear and instead of its bigger 650S sibling’s sophisticated interlinked suspension, the 570S gets a more conventional double wishbone design linked with adaptive dampers and anti-roll bars. Like the 650S though,…

Ford’s all-new budget-friendly city car offers a similar design language to the new Ford Fusion and Focus, lending the car a visual update that brings it closer to the current family. Specification highlights include the company’s Sync infotainment system, Bluetooth with voice-activation and climate control. In terms of safety, all models will feature front airbags with ABS-assisted brakes. Higher specification models will also offer curtain airbags, ESP and hill launch assist. A sedan body-style is likely to join the range too. ETA: Q4 2015…

TALK about not knowing whether to laugh or cry. You’ve just won the Monaco Grand Prix and yet, your best driver and the defending world champion has just lost the most prestigious race on the F1 calendar. This year, the annual procession through the Principality took an hour and 48 minutes, but it was a mere three seconds buried within the race history that turned the result on its head. With a handful of laps remaining, Lewis Hamilton is leading by 19,3 seconds. If he doesn’t make a mistake and his car doesn’t falter, how could he possibly lose the race? Quite easily. That’s the answer based on a catastrophic sequence of events that led to one huge howler. It was a classic case of F1 being too clever for…

RACING to the summit of Knysna’s Simola Hill is not for the faint-hearted. It is fast – very fast – a daunting challenge to driver and machine against the clock where mere fractions of a second make the difference between success and failure. It pushes bravery to the limit and Lady Luck occasionally plays her hand... The 2015 instalment was marked by plenty of drama right until the thrilling end. This year CAR travelled from Cape Town to Knysna with first-time entrant 67-year-old Nigel Stokes and his 1960 Jaguar Mark 2. Typical of many classics – and in true American fashion – it was a case of “run what yer brung”. While the car is not overly race prepared, it is stripped of the major nonessentials like sound deadening, which…

WITHIN the great expanse of the South African bush there are battlefields aplenty, which contribute to the rich history of South Africa. The right person to show you these places is Ken Gillings, and the vehicle to get you there is his 2008 Toyota Fortuner. This battlefield specialist takes tourists through bush to some of the remotest locations in the country. When the time came to switch from a bakkie – a Hilux, to be exact – to an SUV, Ken said the decision to buy a Fortuner made sense. “The parts are local and easy to find, and the widely available service network is excellent” Ken’s very first trip with the For-tuner was to the location of the Battle of Hlobane, close to Vryheid in the north of KwaZulu-Natal.…

JEEP RENEGADE Prices start at R375 990 THE smallest member of the Jeep family, the Renegade, has arrived on our market. Despite its dinky dimensions, the Renegade manages to channel much of its larger Jeep siblings’ visual presence with the signature seven-slot grille, chunky squared-off sheet metal and neat touches such as the ‘X’ accents in the taillamps inspired by the stamp prints on World War II-era fuel cans. This compact package also incorporates 175›mm of ground clearance and a respectable 205›mm of wheel articulation. The Jeep Renegade will initially be powered by a 1,4-litre MultiAir II turbopetrol engine developing 103 kW/230 N.m coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox and 4×2 drivetrain configuration. All-wheel-drive models, featuring Jeep’s SelectTerrain active off-road drivetrain management system, and different powerplants will gradually filter into…

Over to you... Please include your physical address and telephone number. Diverse ideas and opinions are welcome, but publication of your letter doesn’t necessarily mean we agree. Please stick to a maximum of 300 words. CAR reserves the right to edit and shorten letters owing to space constraints. Email: car@ramsaymedia.co.za Mail: CAR, PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 Fax: 021 530 3338 WINNING LETTER TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT Everyone dreams of owning a car that makes people look twice, but owning a supercar is just a dream for most of us. Lately, however, some of the best-looking cars are the little hatchbacks and compact family cars that are used for everyday purposes. Cars like the BMW 2 Series and the Mercedes-Benz CLA have some extremely good styling features and, with the…

MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS Benz’s mighty G Class gets a facelift with new bumpers and flared wheelarches on the non-AMG models. The exterior updates are fairly subtle, but there are big developments under the bonnet, though. The G350d gets 180 kW and 600 N.m (up from 155 and 540), the G500 now boasts a twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 with 310 kW and 610 N.m. The updated G63 AMG produces 420 kW (up from 400 kW) and 760 N.m. All three of these derivates will be available in our market. ETA: Q1 2016. BMW 3 SERIES You’ll be hard-pressed to spot the exterior enhancements BMW has made to its 3 Series range. Here’s what to look for… • Optional full LED headlamps• A new range of alloy wheels• Revised rear apron• Interior trim accents and a full colour…

1 The philosophy behind SVO is… About taking an already highly capable model such as the Range Rover Sport and then pushing its execution to the extreme. It’s about developing niche products that our customers want. This is a new division and, sure, it’s going to take a while to settle into what we do, but we’ve put out our first car – the Range Rover Sport SVR [see CAR’s driving impression on pg 32]. The idea is get feedback from our customers and see what they think about it. 2 We will look for the right vehicle to create a product that’s right for SVO We’re not the same as Mercedes-Benz’s AMG or BMW’s M divisions. AMG makes a version for almost every range that Mercedes-Benz produces. That’s not…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS 2,0 Diesel Price: TBA Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Power: 132 kW Torque: 430 N.m Trans: 6-spd manual/ 8-spd auto 0-100 km/h: 7,8 secs Top speed: 231/238 km/h Fuel cons: 4,2 L/100 km CO 2  : 109 g/km Claimed figures WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS 2,0 Petrol Price: TBA Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Power: 147 kW Torque: 340 N.m Trans: 8-spd auto 0-100 km/h: 6,9 secs Top speed: 250 km/h Fuel cons: 7,5 L/100 km CO 2  : 179 g/km 3,0 V6 SC Petrol Price: TBA Engine: 3,0-litre, V6, supercharged petrol Power: 250 kW Torque: 450 N.m Trans: 8-spd auto 0-100 km/h: 5,1 secs Top speed: 250 km/h Fuel cons: 8,1 L/100 km CO 2  : 194 g/km Claimed figures IT seems the…

VW GOLF 1,4 TSI COMFORTLINE DSG 11 months | 17 528 km | 8,3 L/100 km The Golf performed flawlessly on a speedy jaunt to Plettenberg Bay. Pronounced facia rattle on rougher parts of the R62 on the return journey was less welcome – Terence Steenkamp BMW M235I 2 months | 2 629 km | 12,15 L/100 km The running-in period is over and I am VERY happy. The inline-six has been happily singing to the redline (traffic conditions permitting, of course) – Sudhir Matai ISUZU KB300 D-TEQ LX 4X4 DC 10 months | 15 520 km | 9,67 L/100 km The 15 000 km service was very efficiently taken care of by Reeds N1 City, including sorting out the squeaky suspension – Peter Palm JEEP CHEROKEE 3,2 V6 4X4…

The May 2006 issue marked our first road test of a Toyota For-tuner – a 4,0 V6 4x4 model. We favoured the Fortuner’s value for money in relation to its competitors: “which has the looks, equipment and capability of vehicles costing much more.” We were also impressed with its off-road capabilities: “[When] we tried it on a rocky off-road route and on soft sand, it handled [the conditions] with aplomb.” Under the bonnet was the same 1GR-FE V6 as in flagship Hiluxes. While peak power remained the same, at 175 kW at 5 200 r/min, torque delivery was tweaked on automatic transmission versions, increasing peak torque output to 376 N.m at 3 800 r/min. We concluded by saying we were impressed with the Toyota because of “its successful approach to…

I have a problem with my 3,8-litre V6 Mitsubishi Pajero. Every time I start the engine, the ASC light remains on and the moment I turn the steering, the traction control light illuminates. Both these lights remain on until the next time I turn off the engine. However, when starting the vehicle and driving in a straight line, the ASC light goes out – until I turn the steering wheel again, when both lights come back on. I have taken the vehicle to a Mitsubishi dealer and they recommend I change the steering clock-spring sensor, which unfortunately did not solve the problem. The diagnostic machine still shows a steering-sensor fault. The dealer is now quite adamant it is an ABS wheel-speed sensor fault. I really do not want to waste…

IN recent years we’ve seen a spate of Golf GTI introductions, from manual and DSG versions of the current, seventh-generation model, to potent iterations such as the previous-generation's Edition 35. The latest in this line-up is the Performance Pack for the Golf 7 GTI DSG. With bigger wheels and tyres, improved brakes, a trick electronically controlled limited slip differential, sports suspension and an increase of 7 kW, we expected it would be quicker around the Killarney Raceway than the standard model. On a clear autumn morning, Deon Joubert posted a time of 1 minute 30,03 secs, making it the fastest Golf 7 GTI we have tested. It was only 0,04 seconds slower than the more powerful Edition 35. All these improvements helped the Performance Pack to be 1,34 seconds faster…

AT THE end of last year, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) received the The Royal Automobile Club’s Dewar Trophy. First presented in 1906 for “Outstanding British Technical Achievement”, the award is handed out only if there is a deserving case. In its 108-year history, there have been 43 winners and, of those, only four have been related to Formula One. Mercedes-AMG HPP received the singular honour for its phenomenal success with the Mercedes F1 WO5, a race car driven to 16 victories in 19 Grands Prix by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The genesis of the power unit actually stretches back to 2009 and the foresight of Andy Cowell, the company’s MD. This was at a time in F1 when pioneering work with kinetic energy recovery systems seemed to be…

Timex has been keeping track of time since 1854. There is a watch to suit every facet of your lifestyle, whether you’re into running, gymming or enjoy the great outdoors. For your nearest stockist, contact timex@tregerbrands.co.za or visit www.timex.com…

RENAULT KWID Slotting in under the Captur (see our road test on page 80 ), the Kwid is based on the CMF-A platform Renault co-developed with Nissan. At just 3 680 mm long and 1 580 mm wide, the Kwid is tiny, but is said to offer 180 mm of ground clearance. It employs a new 800 cm 3  three-cylinder petrol engine. MORE LAND ROVER SVX MODELS Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations is reportedly working on a series of off-road focused variants of Land Rover models, dubbed SVX. The new Discovery Sport and upcoming Defender are naturally the perfect candidates for SVX treatment. HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ It looks like Hyundai might enter the one-tonne pick-up segment. After its Santa Cruz concept recieved positive reviews at the 2015…

Reserved for the mightiest of V12-engined Lamborghinis, the Superveloce name makes only its fourth appearance in 44 years. Before being emblazoned on the limited run LP750-4 SV, the badge was affixed to a mere three models, each representing the pinnacle of what Lamborghini was capable of at the time… Miura P400 SV Built 1971–1972 Production 150 units Engine 60-degree V12, 287 kW/400 N.m Diablo SV Built 1995–1998 Production 425 units Engine 60-degree V12, 380 kW/580 N.m Murciélago LP670-4 SV Built 2009–2010 Production 350 units Engine 60-degree V12, 500 kW/660 N.m…

Engine: 3,0-litre V6 SC Petrol Outputs: 250 kW and 450 N.m With its amalgam of tight technical sections and flat-out sweeps, the Circuito de Navarra was the perfect place to unleash the XE’s halo model. Its supercharged V6 is borrowed from the F-Type and it outguns such rivals as Audi’s S4 and the BMW 335i. With the drivetrain management system in its dynamic setting, the throttle becomes hair-trigger-sensitive and a measured toe is needed to smoothly feed in the power when exiting tight corners. Impressive body control thanks to a suspension setup that’s supple and resistant to nose dive and lateral pull – is complemented by a wonderfully layered soundtrack of supercharger whine interspersed with hollow-chested snarls and exhaust crackles when leaning on the gas. While it can be coaxed…

PARTS PRICES (incl VAT) Oil filter: R196,04 Air filter: R343,57 Brake pads (front): R2 041,21 Left headlamp: R25 767,75 Windscreen: R6 315,63 ECU: R15 971,96 COSTS Purchase price when new: R901 500 Present purchase price: R1 040 000 Second-hand values: From R794 000 Fuel and top-up costs: R22 928,33 Cost per kilometre: R1,14 LOGBOOK Test duration: 12 months Distance covered: 20 030 km Fuel used: 50 ppm diesel Best fuel cons: 6,0 L/100 km Worst fuel cons: 10,66 L/100 km Avg fuel cons: 8,86 L/100 km Top-up oil used: 1 litre Tread remaining: 56/50% (f/r) BEING spoilt for choice is a good thing, but it can also complicate matters. We’ve come a long way since a young Alex Jay offered South African car buyers the thrilling choice of buying a…

THE Harley-Davidson Motor Company doesn’t release brand new models every year. Lots of customisation tweaks, yes, but few major upgrades. This year, however, has seen the first new platform introduced into Africa in 14 years. The V-Rod was the last new model and the Street 750 is a chip off the old block, sharing the same 60-degree angle between the cylinders and not the 45 degrees of traditional Harleys. It also sports liquid cooling and produces its maximum power at much higher revs than the Iron 883 model. The most prominent feature of all Harley-Davidsons, apart from the vee-twin engine, is the fuel tank. The traditional one (still used in models such as the Iron 883 and the 1200 “48”) is the peanut tank, which has a capacity of only…

TESLA POWER FOR YOUR HOME South African born Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, has launched a new energy initiative called Powerwall – basically a lithium-ion battery pack for your home. Musk made it clear that Tesla is much more than a car company and is now venturing into the energy field with a focus on electric grids. Tesla has a lot of experience in battery technology and is determined to provide a more compact and affordable solution to home-energy storage. With loadshedding still a dreaded word locally, it sounds like a great idea. The battery pack comes in two sizes (7 kWh or 10 kWh) and can deliver up to 3,3 kW during peak supply. Multiple batteries can be connected to increase capacity and output if needed. An advantage…

In the interests of protecting him from unwanted fame, stalkers and the paparazzi, CAR cannot reveal the true identity of the resourceful Garageman. FISHY FUEL Snoekie Samuels owns and runs the only local fish-and-chip emporium, while his wife, a medium, plies her trade from a room at the back of the shop. Sometimes she helps at the counter and if you’re impatient you may get your fortune told (for free!) while waiting for your chips. A few months ago a rumour arrived via Rooibekkie, Japie’s girlfriend, who works at the shop, that Snoekie had started to run his diesel bakkie on old fish-and-chip oil. This produced waves of amusement in the workshop; we knew that it was feasible, but not without certain precautions. Judgement day arrived three weeks ago. The…

June 16 Tue Streetcar track day/ Holland fund raiser 20 Sat Short circuit racing/karting 27 Sat Power Series practice/ Motorcycle track school July 4 Sat Power Series 11 Sat Drifting 18 Sat Sports & GT section track day/Streetcar track day 24 Fri Street2Strip and Drifting practice 25 Sat Power Series practice/ Motorcycle track school/Karting 25 Sat Moths Charity Event Cape August 1 Sat Power Series 8 Sat Drag racing/Short circuit racing Dates are subject to change. Visit www.wpmc.co.za  for an up-to-date diary. KILLARNEY INFO: If you want to take your own car around the track or do an advanced-driving course, contact Killarney on 021 557 1639, email info@wpmc.co.za  or visit www.wpmc.co.za…

ANDY COWELL explains how the rapid strides being made with hybrid and turbo technology also have a massive knock-on effect for road cars. “The way you make an internal combustion engine more efficient is to downsize it. You take cylinders away and drop the engine speed. But that’s not creating much power. So you use a turbocharger to put in more oxygen in order to burn more or less the same amount of fuel as before, and you get the power back. As that continues, you end up with very small engines with very large turbochargers… and a lot of lag. “To deal with that you can either put on a hybrid system with a large electric motor to spin up the turbocharger as you pull away from traffic lights.…