Motoring April 2018

IN THIS ISSUE: JAGUAR E-PACE, JAGUAR’S LATEST ENTRY REVIEWED AND TESTED | NEW C4 CACTUS, MOST COMFORTABLE COMPACT HATCHBACK? INSURANCE FOR YOUNG DRIVERS | REVIEW OF DACIA’S SANDERO, SANDERO STEPWAY & LOGAN MCV

The Malta Independent on Sunday. April 2018

DACIA’S SANDERO, SANDERO STEPWAY, & LOGAN MCV GET YOURSELF A NEW CAR FOR A SHOCKINGLY AFFORDABLE PRICE! also inside

Discover panoramic CHIANTI

CHIANTI VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: VERRAZZANO

DISCOVER PANORAMIC CHIANTI ONLY A FEW REGIONS CAN OFFER SUCH A BEAUTIFULLY RICH PANORAMA AS CHIANT : GREEN HILLS, MILES AND MILES OF VINEYARDS AND OLIVE GROVES AND ANCIENT WALLED VILLAGES. CHIANTI CLASSICO SPREADS FROM FLORENCE TO SIENA AND INCLUDES THE MUNICIPALITIES OF GREVE, PANZANO, RADDA, GAIOLE AND CASTELLINA.

GREVE Considered by many as the gate into Chianti, Greve is famous for its uniquely shaped triangular piazza that has been a market place for the surrounding castles and walled villages since the Middle Ages. Greve boasts of a variety of places where you can taste Chianti wine and enjoy local food. The porticos include many workshops, wine bars and restaurants including Antica Macelleria Falorni, a historical butcher specialising in local delicacies. Just a few steps away stands the Wine Musuem.

PANZANO Panzano, the most populous town in Chianti, lies just a few km south of Greve. Since the 12th century Panzano has played an important defensive role for Florence and its county. Its Castello was a fundamental bulwark for defending the Florentine Republic during the battles between Florence and Siena.There are several wine bars and restaurants in Panzano that offer wine tasting.

A popular place to visit is the Antica Macelleria Cecchini, a butcher shop famous for its Florentine steak where the owner recites passages from Dante's Divine Comedy while serving customers.

CASTELLINA Moving towards Siena you'll

reach Castellina in Chianti which dates back to the Etruscans. Its great position in the middle of the Chianti region made Castellina a strategical headquarter between Florence and Siena. The massive Rocca castle stands over the city and the impressive Via delle Volte, an underground tunnel around the city, offers breathtaking panoramic views. In Castellina you can taste wines in one of its many wine bars and the great, unforgettable taste of its many fresh and aged salami and cold cuts which have become an age-old art in Chianti and Tuscany.

GAIOLE Not far from the Radda stands Gaiole in Chianti, another town dating back to the Middle Ages.

Gaiole was an important market place for the castles in the surroundings because of its position between Chianti and the Valdarno (Valley of the Arno river). Gaiole is still an important point of interest in this area with many farmhouses, wine shops and wineries perfect for Chianti wine tasting.

Panzano in Chianti

RADDA Leaving the Chiantigiana road and taking the SR429 you reach Radda in Chianti that still preserves its original medieval look. The ancient walls still defend the center, today filled with maze-like streets. The Palazzo del Podestà overlooks the main square together with the Romanesque Church of S. Niccolò. Wandering around Radda’s medieval streets, you can enjoy a glass of wine at one of its many wine bars overlooking the spectacular panorama of the vineyard covered hills surrounding the town.

Near Radda stands the Castle of Volpaia, an ancient walled town where you can experience the ancient culture of wine.

Castellina in Chianti April 2018 | motoring 03

CHIANTI VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT

VERRAZZANO

THE CASTELLO DI VERRAZZANO IS LOCATED IN GREVE IN CHIANTI, IN THE HEART OF THE CHIANTI CLASSICO AREA, BETWEEN FLORENCE AND SIENA. WITH A GREAT TRADITION OF WINEMAKING HERE THE CASTELLO BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE VERRAZZANO FAMILY IN THE VII CENTURY. GIOVANNI DA VERRAZZANO, THE NAVIGATOR AND EXPLORER WHO DISCOVERED THE BAY OF NEW YORK AND OF THE MAJORITY OF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES WAS BORN HERE IN 1485. THE VERRAZZANO – NARROWS BRIDGE (SOMETIMES CALLED SIMPLY THE VERRAZZANO BRIDGE), THE ICONIC DOUBLE-DECKED SUSPENSION BRIDGE IN NEW YORK THAT CONNECTS THE BOROUGHS OF STATEN ISLAND AND BROOKLYN, WAS NAMED AFTER HIM IN 1964.

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n 1958 the Cappellini family took over the Castello and brought it back it to its former glory by restoring the villa and rebuilding the the vineyards while respecting the historical and architectonic features of the place. The ancient cellars date back to the XVIth century. Aging takes place in Slavonian oak barrels placed along the corridors, protected from sudden temperature changes. 3 year old oak barrels of 30 hl. capacity are used for the elevation of the Chianti and Chianti Classico Riserva, and new barriques (Allier and Vosges) for the elevation of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sassello and of the Super Tuscan Bottiglia Particolare.

By visiting the winery, surrounded by the scent of fine oak barrels, one enters the heart of the castle, where selections of the best vintages since 1924 are kept. With boundaries which have remained unchanged for over 1000 years, the estate of 230 acres owns 52 hectares of vineyards at altitudes between 260 and 420 meters above sea level, in a stony soil rich in limestone.

BOOKING A WINE TOUR AT CASTELLO DI VERRAZZANO. Just under an hours drive south from Florence via SR222 and Strada Regionale 222 Chiantigiana/SR222 or via SP70 and Strada Regionale 222 Chiantigiana/SR222 leads you to Castello di Verrazzano.

Different types of wine tours are available including a Classic Wine Tour, a Chianti Tradition wine tour, a Wine & Food Experience tour, and Dinner at the Farm. You can book a wine tour online here > www.verrazzano.com/en/wine-tours/ During the visits, strolling in the late-Reinassance gardens of the Villa, you can discover the great history of the Navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano and have the chance to see the wild boar bred in the surrounding woods. The tours are always completed with a guided tasting of classic wines, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Vin Santo (Holy Wine) together with the traditional almond biscuits. You can also visit “Cantinetta dei Verrazzano” in Florence, just around the corner from the Duomo (Via dei Tavolini, 18/r) an interconnecting wine bar and bakery where you can enjoy Verrazzano wines and also the products from the Verrazzano farms, and from their bakery.

Locally Verrazzano Wines are imported by Attard and Co and available from Sistina Wine & Co., The Strand Gzira. Opening hours: 10am till late.

WEB: www.sistinawineco.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/sistinawineco TEL: 2131 4161

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otor insurance premiums for young drivers are typically at least twice as expensive as those for policies covering drivers aged 25 years and over.

In a report published last year by the Association of British Insurers, it was shown how young drivers are much more likely to cause “catastrophic” claims, which were defined as “major crashes that will have serious consequences for the driver, passengers and other road users” and which involve fatalities or very serious injuries being sustained. More than 25% of such accidents were in fact caused by young drivers. There are usually combinations of factors which lead to a crash and it is often difficult to determine

the exact cause, however it is clear that young drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash as a result of excessive speed and loss of control of the vehicle. The indications are that although young drivers may have been taught to drive safely, they frequently over-estimate their abilities and underestimate dangers which, coupled with a desire to show off, leads to some young drivers driving in dangerous and high-risk ways.

So, the question is what can be done to reduce the risk of an accident where the driver is young and inexperienced? Many recommendations have been made including a minimum learning period, a ban on carrying young passengers and a lowering of the blood alcohol concentration. Ultimately however, what matters is the

Photo Credit Samuel Foster

MOTOR INSURANCE FOR YOUNG DRIVERS ability to change a young driver’s attitude and behaviour while driving. Technology has provided a tool which can be quite effective in achieving this.

Telematics technology allows the constant tracking of a vehicle that has been fitted with a small unobtrusive device. The data collected from this can be processed and analysed in such a way as to provide a very clear picture as to how the driver is driving. For instance, every time the driver over-speeds an alert can be sent to indicate this, via SMS or through a smartphone

app. Motor insurers have therefore been using this technology in specially tailored insurance products for young drivers, designed to make motor insurance more affordable while encouraging young drivers to drive more carefully.

GasanMamo’s Boosh policy does precisely this. Young drivers can benefit from up to 65% discount on their motor insurance premium if they commit to driving within the speed limits and have a telematics device fitted in their vehicle to monitor this. While

their privacy is fully protected, as the insurer only is informed of speed infringements at the same time as they are, the driver can get real time information about how he or she is driving through a ‘driving score’ that is constantly updated. There is also the added bonus that should the vehicle be stolen; its location can easily be tracked very easily and accurately. Further information on the Boosh policy can be obtained by visiting www.gasanmamo.com or one of GasanMamo’s offices across Malta and Gozo.

THE MOST COMFORTABLE COMPACT HATCHBACK he New Citroën C4 Cactus takes automotive comfort into a new dimension. It boasts extraordinary ride comfort thanks to the European-first implementation of suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions™ (PHC) that filters out road imperfections and gives passengers the feeling of travelling on a magic carpet.

Citroën's expertise in suspension is undisputed. For 98 years, suspension comfort has been embedded in the Brand's genes. And over the years, customers have grown attached to Citroën’s comfort, which is unique on the market.

The New C4 Cactus is also the world's first car to feature the new Advanced Comfort seats.

All the front seats feature new high-density foam that improves seating comfort. This set of improvements provides approach, postural and ride comfort, making passengers as comfortable as in their living room armchair!

While taking advantage of all the components of the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, passengers travel in complete ease and relaxation thanks to 12 driver assistance systems and 3 connectivity technologies.

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The car's high-performance and efficient engines also contribute to the pleasure and peace of mind felt at the wheel.

The New C4 Cactus is powered

by PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines (including International Engine of the Year 2015, 2016 and 2017) and by BlueHDi diesel engines conferring driving pleasure, economy and environmental respect.

The New C4 Cactus expresses its singular nature through a new, broad and expressive front end, restyled wings and doors, and a generous and smooth rear end home to new 3D-effect LED lights. It offers 31 exterior customisation possibilities with nine body colors and four Color Packs.

Experience the New Citroën C4 Cactus at Michael Attard Ltd, Citroën Showroom, Mdina Road, Attard. www.citroen.com.mt April 2018 | motoring 05

THE JAGUAR E-PACE STUNNING LOOKS COUPLED WITH A SUPERB INTERIOR FOR STARTERS REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN PEEL

pending an afternoon getting accustomed to a Jaguar E-Pace turned out to be an enjoyable and positively surprising few hours. This latest ‘baby’ SUV, full to the brim with the latest technological advancements is seriously tempting, and a lot of fun to be in.

Prompted by insane growth in the SUV segment, Jaguar launched its first SUV – the F-Pace – back in 2016. It’s since become Jaguar’s fastest-selling model of all time. Enter the E-Pace, a vehicle that sits below the F-Pace in Jaguar’s line-up, and intended to capitalise on the compact SUV market between now and 2020.

Codenamed ‘cub’ during development this was a hint of what was expected from Jaguar as while the F-Pace is intended to be a full-fat SUV similar to a top-end Discovery or Range Rover, the EPace is a more compact, Range Rover Evoque kind of offering.

I was told before I left that it was also inspired by the F-Type sports car and the most obvious similarity to the F-Type is the headlamp design, which is very different from the wide-eyed lights on the F-Pace. With the E-Pace, they’re very sleek and cat-like. Jaguar also carried on

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with the familiar lines that mark the haunches on the side of the car from the F-Type too, and even carried over the FType’s grab-handle gear stick.

A Jaguar wouldn’t be a Jaguar without some serious motoring under the hood, and the E-Pace is no different with the top-spec version capable of a blistering 060mph time of just 5.9 seconds. It’s also capable of a 151mph top speed, which isn’t bad for an SUV. Jaguar Land Rover is renowned for creating SUVs that get stuff done, and the E-Pace has been designed to maximise spaciousness inside the car with 8.42 litres of central stowage, 10.07 litres in the lockable glovebox, 577 litres of boot space, and 1234 litres of luggage space if you fold the rear seats forward.

Where Jaguar is really hoping to win over the market is the multitude of onboard tech. There’s a new 10-inch Touch Pro tablet that acts as the car’s infotainment system, and lets you control contacts, music, vehicle and navigation options. Our high spec test model in RDynamic SE guise also sported a superb 12.3-inch TFT panel, which replaces the analogue instrumentation with digital options on the screen. This looked super cool and proved an instant hit to my

A JAGUAR WOULDN’T BE A JAGUAR WITHOUT SOME SERIOUS MOTORING UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE E-PACE IS NO DIFFERENT WITH THE TOP-SPEC VERSION CAPABLE OF A BLISTERING 0-60MPH TIME OF JUST 5.9 SECONDS. IT’S ALSO CAPABLE OF A 151MPH TOP SPEED, WHICH ISN’T BAD FOR AN SUV.

likings.

There are USB ports for all five seats in the car, two of which are in the central cubby box. And there are also further 12v charging points in the front, the centre console, and even the boot. Using a USB in the central cubby, you can easily connect your phone to the Meridian sound system, which itself has an outstanding 825W surround option.

There are also smart-driving technologies like Blind Spot Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control (plus Queue Assist), amongst other safety features.

My afternoon driving the E-Pace around quiet, not so smooth, country roads left a huge smile of satisfaction, coupled with admiration for the amount of hi-tech safety features and I have to add, beautiful interior lighting that changes according to the preferred driving mode chosen. The car provided was an AWD 150bhp 2ltr diesel in R-Dynamic SE trim level with an auto 9-speed gearbox. The diesel engine has plenty of torque, and in Sport mode provides enough power for confident overtaking. If a diesel is what suits your needs, this one is well mannered enough.

The 9-speed auto ‘box is truly excellent.

The ratios are close and the changes are barely noticable. Manual changes can be made either by paddles behind the steering wheel or by popping the stick up or down.

Jaguar’s done a great job of keeping the E-Pace stiff and sporty. It’s very responsive, and the all-wheel-drive kept tight turns sharp even at speed over loose surfaces.

The cabin is quiet, spacious and luxurious. By the end of the afternoon I got so attached to this car that I was not looking forward to handing back the key.

Jaguar had put some serious work into maintaining many of the characteristics of the F-Type and F-Pace, but in a more compact, heavier SUV, that is stunning and beautiful to look at from any angle.

THE REVIEW OF DACIA’S SANDERO, SANDERO STEPWAY & LOGAN MCV DACIA HAVE PARTNERED WITH REEVOO TO PROVIDE 100% GENUINE, UNCENSORED REVIEWS ALLOWING AN OPEN, UNBIASED AND HONEST EXPERIENCE – SO PROSPECTIVE DACIA BUYERS CAN REST ASSURED THEY’LL BE RECEIVING GENUINE INFORMATION. SO T’NOD JUST TAKE IT FROM US. Sandero

Sandero Stepway

Logan MCV

Scores 8.9 out of 10. Starting from € 9,190* Supermini yet Smart. We keep our equation to car building simple to remain affordable, our thinking is: Attractive Design + Spacious Interior + Modern Technology = Sandero

Scores 8.9 out of 10. Starting from € 12,150* The Small but Mighty. All the style of a sports utility vehicle. All the practicality of a family hatchback. The maximum boot capacity, with rear seats in place, is an impressive 320litres. Fold down the rear seats and you'll have a jaw dropping 1,200litres of boot volume. Enjoy the best of both worlds with Dacia’s Sandero Stepway.

Scores 8.9 out of 10. Starting from € 14,700 The Ridiculously Roomy. With an impressive boot capacity of 573litres with the rear seats in place or 1,518litres with rear seats folded down. Whilst still boasting ample interior space for five adults, the Logan MCV offers plenty of versatility for the entire family.

See what our customers have to say about their Sandero Stepway:

See what our customers have to say about their Logan:

“Does what it says on the tin. Great value for money and a good solid drive.”

“Most versatile vehicle with plenty of space which can be used in so many ways.”

“Everything – she is great to drive and lots of people can't believe how much she cost as the specifications are so good and high.”

“Responsive even in eco mode. The car gives a great surefooted response to driver input.”

See what our customers have to say about their Sandero; “Comfortable, good sized boot, easy steering!”

“The TCe 0.9 turbo engine is very impressive, pleasantly surprised by its performance. Value for money is a no brainer. Handling is good. Great fuel consumption.”

*Prices are inclusive of Scrappage Scheme. T&Cs apply.

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