INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

PRITESH RUTHUN

NEW vehicle sales have continued to establish firmer ground, recording the third consecutive month of growth since lockdown. The slow resurgence of sales comes off the back of reduced lockdown level regulations as the country entered level 1 during September.

Year-on-year results for the past three months have shifted from 29.6% in July, down to 26.3% in August, then to 23.9% in September. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), 37 403 new vehicles were sold during September, up 3 888 units from August.

Lockdown, however, has affected every single South African – on so many levels. One of the most interesting impacts has been the change in car-buying patterns.

According to George Mienie, AutoTrader chief executive, it is interesting to see how preferences have changed during lockdown. “The 2020 AutoTrader Car Industry Report reveals which cars were the most searched for pre- and during-lockdown. When one compares this to search data during lockdown level 2 (August 18 to September 20), there are some distinct differences.”

One of the most interesting trends was the substantial growth in searches for the Volkswagen Golf – whereas it was the fourth most searched for vehicle before lockdown, it shot up into first position during level 5 and level 4. “This could have something to do with the affordability of the Golf. According to the AutoTrader report, the average selling price of the Golf over the past year was R288 049 while the average selling price of the Hilux was R327 807. The dominance of the Golf during lockdown could indicate that motorists were under financial pressure and wanted to minimise their spending on a car,” Mienie maintains.

However, there was an exception to this rule in the form of the Porsche 911 which was the 10th most searched for car during lockdown. “The 911 is periodically in the top 10 list of most searched for cars – yet it did appear during lockdown. Maybe motorists were dreaming of better times to come, or maybe they were just wanting to have some fun during what was a very difficult time for us all,” Mienie suggests.

The data also reveals lower search statistics for the Ford Ranger compared to its competitors. “According to the 2020 AutoTrader Car Industry Report, the Ford Ranger was the top-selling used car, contributing 4.7% of all cars sold, at an average selling price of R305 944, an average mileage of 85 948km and an average year model of 2016. Yet it was the fifth most searched for vehicle during all three periods,” Mienie says.

While the exact reasoning behind the search data is hypothetical, Mienie says that one thing is certain: “Lockdown has had an enormous impact on the lives of motorists (and indeed all South Africans). It has greatly impacted the used car market too. Hopefully, those challenging times are now behind us.”

TOP 10 MOST SEARCHED MODELS: DURING LOCKDOWN LEVEL 2 AUGUST 18 - SEPTEMBER 10

TOP 10 MOST SEARCHED MODELS: PRE-LOCKDOWN

RISE OF THE TRIDENT

PRITESH RUTHUN MASERATI’S new MC20 supercar is a long-awaited answer to the mesmerising Ferrari 488, outrageous Lamborghini Huracan and ravishing Audi R8.

It’s the freshest of the aforementioned bunch and it comes packing a new F1-inspired engine and exterior styling that make it an ideal fit for the next Tron film.

I can picture it – Kevin Flynn blasting down The Grid at top speed; flames, smoke, adrenalin pumping…

In fact, when discussing this car with a colleague a couple of weeks ago, we came to the conclusion that the MC20 is so photogenic that it would basically fit in any motion picture in any role; perhaps a Bond villain’s car? Heck, I can even see it as an Autobot in the next Transformers film.

In the real world, however, far away from the fantasy of motion pictures, the Maserati MC20 brings genuinely refreshing technologies to the market, while at the same time instantly raises the profile of Maserati as a genuine alternative in the world of high-end motoring.

It’s fast. It’s low. It’s dripping hot. Here are four reasons why we think the new Maserati MC20 is the supercar of the moment and why it should be your next supercar…

4) IT’S A DIGITALLY-HONED DRIVER’S CAR Some 97% of the MC20’s development was performed virtually, using a system called Virtual Vehicle Dynamics Development, developed by Maserati and based on a complex mathematical model called Virtual Car, into which every conceivable parameter is entered (the engineers assure us it can also take what the driver had for breakfast into account). According to Maserati, Virtual development reduces delivery times and allows for an optimal technical solution to be identified faster, and with lower costs. For example, it is possible for engineers to assess three different shock absorber solutions in a virtual world and subsequently choose the most suitable set-up within a short period of time.

Naturally, the final tuning of the MC20 took place on the track in Varano, and on the Apennine mountain roads above Modena, which have always been the Maserati proving grounds, so expect it to be the best handling Maserati ever made.

3) SUPERCAR BLOAT IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM While most sports cars and supercars these days are gaining weight, Maserati set out to ensure that the MC20 tips the scales at no more than 1 500kg. That’s still a loft of mass for a supercar, but considering the sheer luxuriousness of the vehicle and the tech that’s packed into it, they’ve done well to meet weight targets.

Thanks to its power output of 463kW, Maserati claims it has the best power to weight ratio too, which should make it one of the fastest accelerating cars the brand has ever made. This lightweight pursuit was achieved without sacrificing anything in terms of comfort and luxury. The entire chassis is cast in carbon fibre and composites, bringing the benefits of lighter weight overall, while the carbon fibre body parts enabled the creation of shapes considered impossible with press-formed metal. The car’s gorgeous butterfly doors, for instance, hint at how the designers managed to create a stylistic masterpiece without turning it into a beefy-looking, angular, gaping-intake, big-wing, ungainly thing.

2) IT CUTS THROUGH THE AIR WITH PRECISION The new Maserati MC20 spent more than two thousand hours in Formula One specialist Dallara’s wind tunnel and it underwent more than a thousand CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations. It’s this dedicated aero development that has enabled the creation of a supercar with refined aerodynamics, which is arguably a genuine work of art, they say.

The MC20’s aerodynamic design divides the car into two parts: an upper part where stylistic considerations take precedent and a more technical lower part, colour-coded in black and carbon fibre respectively.

What’s more, there are no obvious Performante or RS-style wings here: just a discreet rear spoiler that enhances the up-washing generated by the floor and enhances the downforce.

Thanks to the almost obsessive care taken over the development of all the car’s aero features, the MC20 generates a high aerodynamic load with low drag, enabling it to reach a top speed beyond 325km/h. 1) SCREAMING, TURBOCHARGED V6 HEART So we get to the best bit. The MC20’s 90° V6 engine displaces 3.0 litres and it’s mounted midships, behind the driver and passenger, in true supercar tradition. They call the engine “Nettuno”, and it’s an absolute masterpiece.

Maserati is very clear that this engine hasn’t been lifted out of a Ferrari nor is it a hotter version of Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta QV; it is a Maserati engine, 100% made in Modena.

It also happens to be the highest-powered V6 power plant in production and the most powerful road-going Maserati you can buy. Designed component by component by the engine specialists of the Maserati technical department, with constant support from the Modena Innovation Lab, it boasts some of the most advanced technology of any road car engine on today’s market.

There are three main components to consider when it comes to the new MC20’s engine: i) The pre-chamber: a combustion chamber placed between the central spark plug and the conventional combustion chamber, to which it is connected by a series of specially shaped holes. ii) The side spark plug: a standard spark plug that provides back-up to ensure smooth engine combustion in operating conditions when the use of the pre-chamber is not necessary. iii) The dual (indirect and direct) injection system: combined with the fuel delivery pressure of 350 bar, it reduces noise at low rpm, cuts emissions and saves fuel.

The Nettuno engine makes 463kW and 730Nm, and is mated to a special 8-speed oil-immersed Dual Clutch Transmission, that rockets the car to 100km/h from a standstill in 3 seconds.

CONSIDER THIS As far as carmakers go, Maserati has arguably been through the worst of times and the best of times, both as an automotive manufacturer and as a racing outfit. The brand is now looking to the future, a brighter one, with the MC20 leading the charge as an opening salvo of things to come.

Light, fast, sleek, with drama and presence, the MC20 is not going to be for everyone and if you’re truly seeking an out-and-out track weapon, then look elsewhere. This is, in our opinion, ‘the’ supercar that you can take on the long road, albeit you must pack lightly as it’s not a GT car by any measure, if you consider the performance potential on offer.

Prices have not been confirmed for South Africa just yet, but you must act fast to secure a build slot. Our local Maserati insiders say deposits have been secured for five bespoke MC20 models that should arrive in South Africa next year. We can’t wait to hear it sing and tell you more about it once we drive the thing.

SPECIFICATIONS

MAKE: Maserati MODEL: MC20 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6, Twin-turbo petrol POWER: 463kW at 7 500rpm TORQUE: 730Nm at 3 000rpm GEARBOX: 8-speed double-clutch 0-100km/h: 3 seconds TOP SPEED: 325km/h+ PRICE: R7.5 million (estimated)