Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2015 i CAR

...the travelling-around-the-world-driving-fancy cars bit and, of course, the not-having-to-pay-for-running-costs bit. Those aren’t very tough. The hard part – please hear me out – is being able to accurately and objectively evaluate the cars we’re required to drive. With all that travel and access to cars comes great responsibility. You’re spending a lot of money buying a new car and our appraisal and advice must be spot on. We feel that pressure at CAR. To precisely analyse the handling, ride and performance differences between well-matched vehicles in a particular segment is a tricky business. Modern cars – relative to their price – are well-made pieces of machinery. They have to be. With so many derivatives available, it’s a buyers market and prospective owners are understandably picky. And that means, in our…

ETA: Q1 2016 BIGGER, BUT LIGHTER The new A4 is wider and longer than ever, by 25 mm and 16 mm respectively – with a 12 mm longer wheelbase (the Avant is one millimetre shorter and seven millimetres taller), but its lightwight construction also means it weighs up to 120 kg less. The A4 and A4 Avant also boast low aerodynamic coefficients of 0,23 and 0,26. SEVEN ENGINES FROM LAUNCH Both A4 models will come with a choice of three turbopetrol T FSI engines (110 kW 1,4; 140 kW 2,0 and 185 kW 2,0) and four turbodiesel TDI motors (110 kW 2,0; 140 kW 2,0; 160 kW 3,0 and 200 kW 3,0). A six-speed manual gearbox, seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch and eight-speed Tiptronic automatic (exclusively used on the 200 kW…

The 308 GTi will finally take the fight to the likes of Ford’s Focus ST and Volkswagen’s Golf GTI with two versions – both powered by a 1,6-litre turbopetrol THP motor with a six-speed manual shifter. GTi 250: 184 kW; 0-100 km/h in 6,2 secs; 18-inch alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres GTi 270: 200 kW; 0-100 km/h in 6,0 secs; 19-inch alloys with Michelin Super Sport rubber around model-specific Torsen limited-slip diff; stiffer suspension; bigger brakes ETA: mid-year 2016…

CHEVROLET CRUZE Globally, GM sells more Cruze models than any other car and the next generation appears to signal a sigificant improvement on the current model. It’s bigger, lighter and better looking and, in early 2017, it will hit our shores. CHASSIS Not only is it lighter, says GM, but it’s 27% more rigid. The new Cruze is 58 mm longer and 25 mm lower. The windscreen rake has been increased and drag coefficient is now 0,29. SAFETY & STYLING There are 10 airbags and an array of crash-avoidance systems, and four-wheel disc brakes. The looks are sleeker and more aggressive, with hints of Camaro in the headlamps and grille. DRIVETRAIN A new 1,4-litre turbo, direct-injection engine produces 113 kW (up from 103 kW) and 240 N.m (200 N.m previously).…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Jaguar F-Type R AWD Coupé Prices: R1 694 100 Engine: 5,0-litre, V8 petrol, supercharged Power: 405 kW Torque: 680 N.m Trans: 8-spd auto 0-100 km/h: 4,1 sec Top speed: 300 km/h Fuel cons: 11,3 L/100 km CO 2  : 269 g/km Claimed figures OF the gap between theory and practice, there was no better example than the Jaguar F-Type R Coupé. In theory, a rear-wheel-drive sportscar powered by a 5,0-litre V8 should provide hours of sideways exuberance for its beaming owner. In practice, however, only a skilled driver could dare switch off the traction control and flex their right ankle when the road leans left or right. Do that and the Jag became a squirmy, tail-happy handful. Along with a raucous engine note that…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Mercedes-Benz V220 CDI Avantegarde Price: R952 150 Engine: 2,2-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Power: 120 kW Torque: 380 N.m Trans: 7-speed auto 0 - 100 km/h: na Top Speed: na Fuel cons: 5,7 L/100 km CO 2  : 149 g/km Claimed figures WHILE the Vito/ Viano did well for Mercedes-Benz, it became apparent that the brand’s commercial vehicle-based MPVs no longer met the increasingly discerning tastes of customers. The ever-increasing luxury feel of even compact cars has raised our expectations and the Stuttgart-based manufacturer – renowned for producing superb premium cars – has had to up its MPV offering. Enter the V-class: an MPV that offers an upmarket ambience, replete with a long list of luxury vehicle options. Sensibly, the Benz’s powertrain options have been limited…

EVERYONE has some kind of pilgrimage they’d like to make and for off-road junkies, the wide open spaces found in the great American state of Utah – specifically, the red rock ridges of Moab – are as close as it gets to the Holy Grail. This was the chosen destination for the 2015 Jeep Experience and the 35-hour journey from the southern tip of Africa was worth enduring for the sheer spectacle of this landcape. The drive from Grand Junction, Colorado afforded a welcome chance to acclimatise to these surroundings. The scale of the scenery is mesmerising. Somewhat surreal too as it looks oddly familiar... the mesas, snow-capped mountains and rock formations appear not to be the work of geological forces, but rather the handiwork of crafty Hollywood prop makers.…

Price: R375 900 0-100 km/h: 11,41 secs Power/Torque: 103 kW/230N.m Top speed: 194 km/h CAR fuel index: 7,2 L/100 km CO 2  : 140 g/km FOR any auto manufacturer with a firmly entrenched persona, a pitch into a new field is always something of a gamble. Take Porsche’s gambit with the Cayenne for instance. When it whipped the covers off the Cayenne, purists bemoaned what they believed was Porsche’s dilution, and possible decline, by moving away from the sportscars for which it’s famed and capitulating to the lifestyle set. Lo and behold, Cayenne became one of the company’s biggest money-spinners and has paved the way for the smaller, and likely to be just as popular, Macan. Jeep’s decision to bring in a more compact, town-friendly model in the shape…

I WAS a trifle concerned when this time last year editor Steve Smith confirmed that I would be tasked with testing a VW Golf 7 for a year and 20 000 km. Why? Well, CAR publishes 11 long-term updates on a fleet vehicle during its tenure at the magazine before we run this final wrap-up piece. And trust me, it isn’t always easy writing relevant copy that you, the reader, may find interesting about a vehicle that goes about its day-to-day business in such an unobtrusive manner. My concern stemmed from previous experiences with a number of variants in Volkswagen’s compact hatch range. From the 1,2 TSI to the R model, the Golfs have all been inches away from perfection. What new information was there to glean from a vehicle…

FOUR months into its evaluation, the Mazda3 has had no hiccups, apart from a circular plug that popped out of the inside of the hatchback. The plug, which positions the hook that holds up the right suspender of the parcel shelf, took some effort to put back in place, but with some pushing and twisting it gripped in its socket. Shortly thereafter the Astina, its driver and two passengers set course for a long-weekend in Strandfontein, a 750-km round trip that required the spacious luggage bay and a section of the rear foot well to be packed with baggage and supplies. The trip to the location was in fair weather and allowed the sunroof to let in the gentle winter sun while the driver found the ease of viewing the…

THIS month the NC750X made its longest trip to date. While filming a shootout video featuring the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63 S (visit CARmag.co.za to view it), the opportunity to take the bike along to the shoot location in the Klein Karoo was too good to pass up. Although it was a cold winter’s day, I only left Cape Town at 10h00, which meant the mercury had already started rising. The open roads, especially from Worcester, through Robertson, to Barrydale, suits any bike perfectly, and the Honda performed effortlessly. However, there were times when additional power would have been welcome. Even so, with throttle pinned most of the time, the NC still returned a very favourable fuel consumption figure. The small windscreen is perfect for riding round town, but…

TOP 10 tips to save fuel. We’ve all read lists like that during the past few years as the cost of fuel continues to lighten our wallets irrespective of what we drive. And, buried in that list, is the inevitable sentence or two recommending the removal of all ex-factory addenda when they’re not in use. This is logical – increased drag would mean greater fuel consumption – but those lists never actually quantify how much extra fuel you’d be burning. Therefore we decided to put it to the test. We transported two bicycles at a speed of 120 km/h and worked out both the extra energy needed to overcome this added aerodynamic drag and what the resultant fuel consumption penalty would be. For a better general understanding of how aerodynamics…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Renault Kadjar Energy TCe 130 Price: TBA Engine: 1,2-litre, 4-cyl, turbopetrol Trans: 6-spd manual Power: 96 kW Torque: 205 N.m 0-100 km/h: 10,1 secs Top speed: 192 km/h Fuel cons: 5,8 L/100 km CO 2  : 130 g/km Claimed figures THE Renault Kadjar media fleet slowed to a trickle as it entered the Expo 2008 exhibition centre, a sprawling concrete artwork located in a meander of the river Ebro that flows through Zaragoza. Built to host the International Exposition on Water and Sustainable Development seven years ago, the massive complex doesn’t usually allow vehicles within its grounds. La Régie, however, has obtained special permission and we’re restricted to a 10 km/h crawl – a speed that reflects the French manufacturer’s circumspect return to a…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Maserati Ghibli S Price: R1 622 000 Engine: 3,0-litre, V6, twin-turbopetrol Trans: 8-spd AT Power: 301 kW Torque: 550 N.m 0-100 km/h: 5,0 sec Top speed: 285 km/h Fuel cons: 9,6 L/100 km CO 2  : 223 g/km Claimed figures ERMENEGILDO Zegna, the chief executive of the luxury fashion house founded by his grandfather and namesake, and Harald Wester, the boss of Maserati, are sitting opposite one another in a pair of matching wingback chairs. I’m among an ensemble of journalists gathered in the Ernest Hemingway suite in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées in Stresa (where the celebrated American author stayed while convalescing from a wound he sustained in WWI) and we’re listening to the Italian and German executives wax lyrical about Zegna’s…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Volkswagen T6 Caravelle Price: TBC Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Power: 150 kW Torque: 450 N.m Trans: 7-spd dual-clutch 0-100 km/h: 9,9 secs Top speed: 203 km/h Fuel cons: 6,3 L/100 km CO 2  : 164 g/km* Claimed figures SA will get a 132 kW/400 N.m Euro 4 turbodiesel engine with different performance figures. THERE are some vehicles to which one cannot help but feel an emotional attachment; some of them are automotive icons that are fondly remembered by many around the world. One such vehicle is the Kombi – it’s a keeper of precious memories of a simpler time. Volkswagen had arranged a mint-condition T2 (second edition) Kombi to be our post-dinner shuttle and when I climbed aboard it uncorked memories of a family…

BMW M3 M-DCT Price: R1 063 592 Power/Torque: 317 kW/550 N.m 0-100 km/h: 4,25 sec Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 10,0 L/100 km CO2 : 194 g/km Mercedes-AMG C63 S Price: R1 171 495 Power/Torque: 375 kW/700 N.m 0-100 km/h: 4,23 sec Top speed: 250 km/h CAR fuel index: 10,1 L/100 km CO2 : 195 g/km 4,23 vs 4,25sec … there it is, front and centre. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S is quicker than the BMW M3 M-DCT by a fraction of a second. If the only aspect that matters to you is how fast a car can sprint from zero to 100 km/h, you’re welcome to skip ahead to the next test. But if you continue reading, welcome to a Battle Royale: the most eagerly anticipated, hotly debated…

Price: R279 900 0-100 km/h: 14,49 secs Power/Torque: 74 kW/170 N.m Top speed: 165 km/h CAR fuel index: 6,72 L/100 km CO 2  : 129 g/km MPVs and minibuses rarely get complimented on their looks. Function dictates form in this segment and, at best, designers are able to only soften the box-like shape a little. The Ford Tourneo Connect – a short-wheelbase version of the seven-seater Grand Tourneo Connect – is an example of this, and wears Ford’s signature gaping grille and rear-swooping lamps together with the generic MPV squared-off rear end and a massive hatch. The interior is a cosy space with top-class comfort, especially in the design of the driver’s seat that includes a good degree of height adjustment complemented by ample steering wheel rake and reach…

AS a bona fide member of the One-Ford product portfolio, the new Fusion arrives in South Africa at a time when the Blue Oval is enjoying increased market share and sales momentum. However, as models such as the EcoSport and Ranger clamber their way to the top of their respective segments one would think the Fusion’s rise may be a bigger challenge, to say the least. Having previously “owned” a Mazda6 for a 20 000 km test in 2009 I concluded that, based purely on value-for-money and packaging (let alone refinement), the 6 could have been the default choice, at the time, within the segment. It wasn’t though: just as then, compact SUVs are eaing away at what was once the domain of the large family sedan and what’s left…

WHEN the Infiniti joined our longterm fleet I was handed the keys for the first leg of the test. Four-time F1 driver’s champion Sebastian Vettel was the director of performance of the Q50, and I was very excited about getting behind the wheel to get a sense of what this 3,5-litre V6 Direct Response Hybrid was like. By virtue of delivering a combined output of 261 kW, the Q50S is a great deal of fun to drive and the seamless operation from all-electric mode to full hybrid mode is a standout feature. The steer-by-wire direct adaptive steering, which essentially is a digitally enhanced steering system, allows you to adjust the tiller’s ratio and feel. The action initially feels somewhat artificial, but with a bit of familiarisation you swiftly get to…

THIS YEAR marked the 17th running of the competition and was judged by 65 jury members from 31 countries, bringing a wealth of automotive experience to the table (our technical editor, Nicol Louw, is also on the judging panel). THE RULES All passenger car engines in production that are available in more than one country are divided into respective categories (mostly based on capacity). Each judge then has to score their favourite top five engines in each segment by allocating a total of 25 points between them. All the points are tallied up and the winners decided. AND THE WINNER IS… BMW 1,5-litre three-cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid. It managed to win three of the categories namely International Engine of the Year, New Engine, and category winner in the 1,0- to 1,4-litre…

WHEN CAR tested the BMW 735i in July 2002, the team’s reaction mirrored those from around the globe. Designer Chris Bangle’s fussy headlamp clusters and horizontal bootline were widely criticised and the rest was only slightly more pleasing to the eye. But the passage of time was kind to the E65; thanks to the Bavarian grand saloon’s trusted mechanicals and dynamic prowess demand remained steady. The range at launch included a 3,6-litre V8 735i with 200 kW and a 4,4-litre V8 745i producing 245 kW. Later, a 225 kW 4,0-litre 740i replaced the 735i and a 750i was introduced with a 270 kW 4,8-litre V8 to replace the 745i. A 730d turbodiesel entered the line-up with a 150 kW 3,0-litre straight-six. If none of these is sufficient to blow your…

NOTES The PRICES shown are the latest available at the time of going to press. Our deadline occurred before 26 June 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…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS Kia Sorento 2,2 CRDi SX AWD Price: R634 995 Engine: 2,2-litre, 4-cyl, turbodiesel Trans: 6-spd AT Power: 147 kW Torque: 440 N.m 0-100 km/h: 9,6 sec Top speed: 203 km/h Fuel cons: 6,6 L/100 km CO 2  : 174 g/km Claimed figures AS the flagship offering in Kia South Africa’s product portfolio, the third-generation Sorento is tasked with not only representing this increasingly popular Korean brand in the local large SUV segment, but setting the bar in terms of quality and refinement for all future models. Having spent 12 months behind the wheel of a second-generation Sorento, which was a long-term test unit in CAR’s fleet, the newcomer immediately impressed me with its newfound levels of perceived build quality and driving refinement. For a…

WE ARE HERE FAST FACTS 1958 Series 1 Land Rover Engine: 2,25-litre, four cylinder, petrol Trans: four-speed manual Power: 52 kW Torque: 160 N.m 0-100 km/h: A long time Top speed: Fast enough IN testing countless Land Rover Defenders throughout the years, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the warm displays of camaraderie directed your way by owners of these automotive icons. What’s more, it’s been entertaining to witness the veritable cold shoulders shown by those same Defender owners towards drivers of more modern members of the Land Rover/ Range Rover family... Now, perched atop the driver’s seat of an immaculately restored 1958 Series 1, it is not only Defender drivers’ whose approval I’m earning, but there’s a broad smile and thumbs-up from the drivers of just about every vehicle I…

Mazda CX-5 2,2DE Active Price: R378 300Power/Torque: 110 kW/380 N.m0-100 km/h: 9,83 secTop speed: 198 km/hCAR fuel index: 8,0 L/100 kmCO2 : 151 g/km Kia Sportage 2,0 CRDi Price: R407 000Power/Torque: 130 kW/382 N.m0-100 km/h: 9,79 secTop speed: 195 km/hCAR fuel index: 8,04 L/100 kmCO2 : 175 g/km LET’S dispense with setting the scene as the crux of this comparative test lies in a simple question: between these two facelifted models, which forms the best rung on the entry-level diesel compact-crossover/SUV ladder? Usurping the mid-size sedan, estate and even the MPV these days as the new de facto urban family car, a front-wheel-drive turbodiesel SUV has to meld practicality, fuel efficiency and (especially) value for money – not to mention a bit of aesthetic flair – into one appealing package.…

Price: R290 000 0-100 km/h: 12,29 secs Power/Torque: 70 kW/160 N.m Top speed: 186 km/h CAR fuel index: 5,17 L/100 km CO 2  : 102 g/km BECAUSE it shares the Volkswagen Group’s PQ25 platform with the ever-popular Polo hatch, it is easy to criticise the less versatile Audi A1 for being too much of a compromise and niche offering within the all-important light hatchback market. However, as a charismatic entry-point into the premium world of Audi, the A1 has more than proved its worth since making its debut in 2010. It has been so successful, in fact, that globally 80% of A1 drivers are new to the brand. In South Africa, buoyed by the addition of the comparatively practical 5-door Sportback model in 2012, approximately 8 700 A1s have…

FOLLOWING the launches of the highly acclaimed Mini and the 1100 front-wheel-drive Austins, designer Sir Alec Issigonis attempted to replicate this success with the bigger 1800. Unfortunately, the motoring public did not receive the car with quite the same enthusiasm and sales were slow. For what was billed as a larger, family-sized car, its compact exterior dimensions and relatively underpowered engine did not impress new buyers. The 1,8-litre four-cylinder engine was a variation of the British Motor Company’s (BMC) B-series as used in the MG B, and in this incarnation the engine, mounted transversely, had five main bearings as opposed to the usual three, making it a lot smoother, and a single carb was specified. Peak power was 62 kW at 5 300 r/min and max torque 134 N.m at…

FLOW AND FEED Walbro’s GSL-Series inline fuel pumps can feed up to 255 litres of fuel per hour to your engine in a direct-port (high-pressure) or throttle body (low pressure) setup. www.JapanAuto.co.za  011 397 6789 ALWAYS CHARGED The Battery Buddy model #5 was designed specifically to jump-start diesel engines. It also comes with a 12V adapter and dual USB outlets for charging gadgets or devices up to seven times. www.batterybuddy.co.za  078 602 2994 GO ANYWHERE Keep the underside of your off-road vehicle safe from the rough African outdoors with Wildog bash plates. They’re high-quality armour that is CNC cut and powder coated. www.wildog.co.za  082 464 3724 AMERICAN MUSCLE Rocket 88 in Pinetown has just got in a new shipment of Chevrolet V8 replacement engines. Pictured here are an LS1 5,7-litre…

NOT only was this the most-anticipated Killarney shootout of 2015, but, after several interruptions by Cape Town’s fickle weather, we finally track tested the BMW M3. For most of the day, it looked like the rain would again scupper our attempts, however, with Deon on standby, we finally got a gap in the weather that lasted long enough for the track to dry. The results would be another key nugget of information to help determine the outcome of what was growing into a hotly debated comparative test (see page 56). During the quarter-mile drag race a few days earlier, the C63 AMG S quite comfortably beat the M3 (watch the clip, as well as a comparative test video, on CARmag.co.za); it proved that the Benz's torque advantage gave it the…

Viagra (2000–2005) Mark Martin is a Nascar luminary and has been described as “the best driver to never win a championship”. He raced for three decades from 1981 to 2013 and notched up 40 wins during a long and distinguished career. And what’s he best known for? The five seasons he spent with Roush Racing driving a car emblazoned with the word “Viagra” in large letters across various body panels. More than that, his contractual obligations required him to appear in TV ads for the male impotency pill. That must have been very hard. Tokyo Ueno Clinic (1995) Only 28 McLaren F1 GTRs were built and this example is the most famous: it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 in the hands of JJ Lehto, Yanick Dalmas…