Motoring December 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS COMPACT SUV WINS 2018 AUTOBEST AWARD | DASH CAMS AND YOUR CAR INSURANCE | TEN SAFEST CARS OF THE YEAR | SEAT SALES GROW 18.7% IN NOVEMBER | ŠKODA KODIAQ BEARS BLUE LIGHTS | IVECO DAILY BLUE POWER IS INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR 2018

The Malta Independent on Sunday. December 2017

DACIA DUSTER COMMERCIAL WINS ‘BEST 4X4 VAN’

also inside

Discover Piedmont, the hilly region around Turin PIEMONTE VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: DAMILANO

DISCOVER

Asti vineyards

PIEDMONT Vercelli

TRUE TO THE MEANING OF ITS NAME – FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN – PIEDMONT IS A LAND OF MOUNTAINS AND ROLLING HILLS. A WEEKEND DRIVING THROUGH ITS GASTRONOMIC TOWNS AND VINE-CLAD HILLS INVITES YOU TO FRIENDLY FAMILYRUN HOTELS AND RUSTIC TRATTORIAS, EXPANSES OF WATER AND RICE PADDIES, LONG ROWS OF POPLARS AND OLD FARMHOUSES, ANCIENT VILLAS SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND MEDIEVAL CASTLES. nce the seat of the Savoy empire, Piedmont is known for its Barolo and Barbaresco, wines made from the Nebbiolo grape that are amongst some of the most coveted wines in the world. A driving trip in this region is really the best way to enjoy and appreciate all it has to offer, driving from town to town, enjoying the magnificent scenery along the way of sloping vineyards, eating delicious meals, and simply going at your own pace.

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Piemonte white gold the region’s famous tartufo bianco.

Asti and Alessandria producing some of the most famous wines including Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato, Dolcetto, Cortese di Gavi, Brachetto, and Grignolino.

VERCELLI AND NOVARA

Turin

TURIN The Province of Turin lies on the border with France and Val d'Aosta. The area is characterized by its varied landscapes: magnificent alpine resorts, vast pasturelands, woods and large stretches of vineyards. In Turin itself enjoy historic cafes and elegant shops in Piazza San Carlo and Via Roma; the recently refurbished stunning Egyptian Museum and the Automobile Museum.

Unique examples of religious architecture abound, such as the Renaissance Duomo, dating back to the Renaissance; and the Sindone Chapel (Shroud of Turin). Magnificent public buildings include Palazzo Carignano,

Cuneo

Palazzo Madama and Palazzo Reale, as well as the prestigious Savoy residences.

The hills to the south of Turin are perfect driving, offering enchanting views and expanses of vineyards and countryside.

A spectacular panorama of rice paddies in the Po Valley characterize Vercelli and Novara, one of Europe’s leading rice producers with rows of poplar trees dividing the plain symmetrically. The countryside is varied from the summits of the Alpine to the gentle slopes of the Gattinara Gattinara Hills, covered by vines, woods and rivers and the vast plains.

ASTI, CUNEO AND ALESSANDRIA The three neighbouring Provinces of Asti, Cuneo, and Alessandria incorporate the Langhe and Monferrato hill region in the centre of Piedmont. The area around Asti is renowned for its cheeses, such as robiola of Roccaverano and robiola di Cocconato. Typical dishes include agnolotti, Monferrato-style potato gnocchi, ciotola di trifulau (cheese fondue with polenta and truffles) and Piedmont-style boiled meats. The region has rich limestone and sandstone deposits laid down by the retreating Adriatic some 5 million years ago and is home to some of Italy's finest red wines and some famous whites. The town of Asti is at the centre of this area and is the major city of this notable wine district. The wine most famously associated with Asti worldwide is the sparkling Asti (DOCG) made solely from the moscato bianco grape. Vineyard upon vineyard litter the terrain around

Verbano Cusio Ossola

VERBANO CUSIO OSSOLA Lying on the borders of Switzerland and Lombardy this is a region of unspoiled nature with an extensive network of valleys. For example, the Val’Ossola is carved by the Toce River overlooking a plunge of 413 metres, which gives way to the most powerful waterfall in the Alps.

Being the most Northern province of Piedmont hearty local foods are based on traditional products, such as black rye bread baked in a wood ovens, and gnocchi all’ossolana made with chestnut flour, potatoes and yellow pumpkin. The entire valley is renowned for its cheeses, mushrooms and polenta in the mountains and lake fish by the lakes.

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PIEDMONT THE ORIGINS OF THE DAMILANO FAMILY COMPANY DATES BACK TO OVER A CENTURY AGO, WHEN GUISEPPE BORGOGNO, THE GREAT-GRANDFATHER OF THE CURRENT OWNERS, STARTED TO GROW AND MAKE WINE FROM HIS OWN GRAPES. THIS TRADITION WAS KEPT UP BY GIACOMO DAMILANO, THE FOUNDER’S SON-IN-LAW, TOGETHER WITH HIS CHILDREN, UNTIL IT WAS PASSED ON TO HIS 4 GRANDCHILDREN, WHO VERY ATTENTIVELY MANAGE THEIR FOREFATHERS’ LAND TODAY. THE WINES PRODUCED ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR UPRIGHT STYLE AND THE ESTATE IS WIDELY APPRECIATED DUE TO THE STRICTNESS AND PASSION THAT ACCOMPANY ALL OF THE COMPANY'S ACTIVITIES. THE VINEYARDS, PARTLY OWNED AND PARTLY LEASED, ARE SITUATED IN THE MOST FAMOUS CRUS OF THE LANGA REGION: CANNUBI, LISTE, FOSSATI, AND BRUNATE, WHICH ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY CULTIVATED WITH NEBBIOLO DA BAROLO, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT, WITH DOLCETTO AND BARBERA VARIETALS.

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he Damilano wine company is one of the oldest wineries in Barolo. The Damilano family business dates back to 1890 when Giuseppe Borgogno, the great grandfather of the winery’s current owners, began to vinify his own estate wines. The town of Barolo resides in the generous and beautiful Langhe region, and its name was taken on by the “king of wines”.

It is with great passion that Giacomo Damilano, the founder’s son-in-law, developed with his children a love for the vineyards, selecting and maintaining them with great care in order to improve the quality of the wines. Over time, the winery’s production was transformed into a jewel that was passed down with pride in 1997 to Giacomo’s grandchildren, who continue to manage the winery today. Paolo, Mario and Guido Damilano, the fourth generation, have brought new vigor to the family business, strengthening and developing the fruit which this extraordinary land has to offer. Always looking forward, they continually seek innovations to further refine Damilano’s production.

Guido Damilano is entrusted with the scrupulous running of the winery, while Paolo and Mario Damilano are in charge of the commercial side. The winery, visible

Damilano Vigna Cannubi 04 motoring | December 2017

Paolo, Mario and Guido Damilano

from the provincial road Alba-Barolo, is about 1.5 km from Barolo in the direction of Alba and is almost at the same elevation as La Morra. The winery was renovated and now features a modern and practical architecture. It is surrounded by the pleasant Langhe landscape, which is

now world-famous, even beyond the limits of the wine and food world.

The secret to high quality is found in the grapes destined to become Damilano wines. The grapes are cultivated in 53 hectares of prestigious and select vineyards that the company looks after with the same attention and respect as the winery’s founders, as well as the skills of modern winemaking in order to pursue the highest quality.

Damilano’s Nebbiolo production culminates in the great cru wines: Cannubi, Liste, Brunate and Cerequio.

The vineyards are located in Barolo, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, Novello, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Casorzo, Serralunga, Diano d’Alba and Vezza d’Alba.

The winery produces 322,000 bottles a year of predominantly red wines, but it is in Barolo that the production reaches the height of its quality. The cru wines Cannubi, Brunate, Cerequio and Liste have distinct expressions that showcase the differences in terroir, ranging from the innate elegance of Cannubi and Brunate to the more decisive and structured character of Cerequio and Liste.

In addition to these four single vineyard crus, Damilano produces the Barolo Lecinquevigne, a blend of five vineyards from five different towns: Barolo, Verduno, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra and Novello.

To complete the range, the winery also produces Nebbiolo d’Alba Marghe, Barbera d’Asti, Barbera d’Alba LaBlu, Dolcetto d’Alba, Langhe Arneis, Rosato, Moscato d’Asti, Barolo Chinato and Grappa di Nebbiolo da Barolo.

Damilano wines can be enjoyed locally or experienced first hand at Damilano Azienda Agricola in Barolo.Tel +39.0173.56105. Locally DaMilano 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

DASH CAMS AND YOUR CAR INSURANCE

A GUIDE TO IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEMS. WRITES PAUL VELLA, RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR. In the heat of the moment, even when you think you had a full view of the road, there are still times when we miss what really happened in an accident. A dash cam could be the answer in settling insurance disputes and claims, and may help you to improve the way you drive.

WHAT’S A DASH CAM? They’re in-car camera systems that make a video and audio recording of your journey. Public awareness of car cameras has increased and many insurance policies already accept dash cam evidence in the event of a car incident. Some dash cams even include a parking mode, which starts recording whenever an impact is detected. If someone knocks a wing mirror or hits your car when they’re parking and doesn’t leave a note, you’ll have a better chance of finding out what happened and who is responsible for the damage. There are three main types of dash cam: • Front view cameras are among the best dash cams for capturing everything in front of you, including traffic you’re following. They’re the cheapest to buy, but lack the ability to see what’s happened behind you.

• Front and back view (or front and rear) dash cams offer the advantage of recording both the view in front and behind your car. Most accidents on the road happen at low speeds and involve rear-end collisions. Investing in a dash cam that offers both views could be worth the extra spend in case you’re involved in an accident.

• Cabin view car cameras provide you with a bird’s eye view of what’s happened inside your car. Mostly used in taxis and car services, it might be up your street if you share a car or maybe wish to check your own driving habits.

WHY INSTALL A DASH CAM? You’ve seen them on the news, crime programmes and some of the footage

even goes viral on social media. And they’re becoming increasingly popular with motorists. In fact, from research carried out, dash cam ownership has gone from 1% to 15% in just four years. They’re an effective way to see how we and others drive and useful for finding out who was at fault in a car accident.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a crash for cash fraud, submitting dash cam evidence could help you be properly compensated and prevent it happening to others.

DASH CAM AND INSURANCE POLICIES Many car accidents aren’t clear cut. If there is any doubt over fault and if it’s your word against theirs, footage recorded by a dash cam can help to resolve the dispute quickly. If the footage proves the other par ty was at fault, you may not have to pay your excess, or if you’ve already paid, your excess may be reimbursed. The evidence could also help in protecting your no claims discount (NCD). As dash cams become more common, they could lower insurance premiums, reduce car theft and help deter insurance fraud to boot.

WILL A DASH CAM CHANGE THE WAY YOU DRIVE?

Maybe. As well as becoming more road-savvy, dash cams could also provide learner, new and returning drivers with priceless information on what they’re doing behind the wheel.

If you’re using the wrong lights or not keeping a safe enough distance from the car in front of you, a car camera could help you pick up on any bad driving habits and improve the standard of driving on our roads as a whole.

Dash cams are one of the most useful pieces of in-car technology, especially for those who spend a long time behind the wheel. Even if you’re a careful and cautious driver, accidents can happen, and it can be difficult to resolve claims quickly without objective evidence. Dashcam video recordings can help your insurer settle a claim stress and hassle free, leaving you to get on with the more impor tant things in life.

NEW CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS COMPACT SUV WINS 2018 AUTOBEST AWARD

ew Citroën C3 Aircross Compact SUV has won the 2018 "Best Buy Car of Europe" award from AUTOBEST, beating five other finalists.

Announced earlier today, the AUTOBEST jury has named New Citroën C3 Aircross Compact SUV the "Best Buy Car of Europe" 2018.

AUTOBEST has selected a best buy car every year since 2001, based on the highest number of votes from an international jury. On this occasion a total of 31 motoring journalists from 31 European countries participated with the cars being assessed against 13 different criteria, including value-formoney, design, comfort and technology, as well as services and spare parts availability in the distribution networks.

Following in the footsteps of Citroën C3 – which was the winner in 2003 – New Citroën C3 Aircross stood apart from the competition to win the 17th annual prize.

New Citroën C3 Aircross is an integral part of the brand's renewal process and a key element in its international product offensive. New Citroën C3 Aircross has already secured over 30,000 orders in Europe.

Customers are attracted by the car’s interior, its spaciousness and its practical design. New C3 Aircross has a unique personality, emphasised by a wide range of personalisation options with 85 exterior colour combinations and five interior design schemes.

Inspired by customer expectations, this people-minded SUV possesses unrivalled cabin modularity and opens up to the outside world with its

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panoramic sunroof.

Thanks to the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, New C3 Aircross offers a true sense of wellbeing for all passengers and an extraordinary at-the-wheel experience for the driver. Equally at ease in town and out on the open road, this new model's athletic abilities are enhanced

by Grip Control® and Hill Descent Assist. Boasting unrivalled comfort and safety, New C3 Aircross is equipped with 12 modern driver assistance systems and four connectivity technologies, and recently earned five stars in the latest Euro NCAP tests.

Ilia Seliktar, AUTOBEST’s Jury President, said; “It is my pleasure to congratulate Linda Jackson and her management team for winning the AUTOBEST 2018 award. In front of such competition, New C3 Aircross proved to be a champion, convincing the jury members that it is the right choice to win this title. It is also a new victory for an SUV, proving once again the jury’s ability not only to follow market developments, but also to detect trends by giving European customers a real guide in buying cars fit for tomorrow.”

With 426,000 registrations in Europe in the first half of 2017, Citroën sales have hit a six-year high – up 5.6% in Europe compared to the same period in 2016. A year after the introduction of New C3, which is the best-selling model in the Citroën range with over 230,000 sales since launch, New Citroën C3 Aircross Compact SUV is now accelerating Citroën's sales performance still further.

December 2017 | motoring 05

Sustainability champion: IVECO DAILY BLUE POWER IS INTERNATIONAL VAN OF THE YEAR 2018 ollowing the IVECO Daily’s recent award for "International Minibus of the Year 2017" by the Bus, Coach and Minibus of the Year international jury, the IVECO Daily Blue Power model has just been crowned International Van of the Year 2018 during Solutrans, the international trade show for the road transport industry held in Lyon, France.

IVECO’s new light segment van and chassis cab range fought off strong competition to take the win, just three years after Daily won the 2015 title. The prestigious award is recognition of the brand’s focus on using technology to improve sustainability, with judges agreeing the Daily Blue Power “puts together the main and viable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of LCVs in urban and suburban operations.”

Matthew Fenech, CEO at MOTORS INC., the sole agents for IVECO in Malta, said that the IVECO’s product strategy is to provide customers with vehicles that enable them to be more sustainable, for both the environment and their bottom line. Proof of this is also the fact that earlier this year, IVECO was named in the “Project of the Year” category for its vision for sustainable heavy duty transport that led to the development of the first natural gas powered truck for long-distance haulage.

The company was the first manufacturer in the world of commercial transport to recognise the potential of natural gas – foresight that saw IVECO develop a full range of natural gas-powered vans, trucks and buses. IVECO is still the only manufacturer to offer a full range of natural gas-powered models, with more than 22,000 IVECO gas-powered vehicles sold to-date.

IVECO also won two of the three “Sustainable Truck of the Year 2017” awards, with the Eurocargo CNG being victorious in the DISTRIBUTION category and

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the Daily Electric in the VAN category. For the second year running, the Daily has won the "Sustainable Truck of the Year 2018" title in the van category with the new Daily Hi-Matic Natural Power thanks to “its drive towards greater sustainability, with continued updates and improvements both on a small and large scale”.

Mr. Fenech said that MOTORS INC. is proud to be associated with IVECO and thanks to its Sole Agency

status, supports the local business community with a range of vehicles that meets all the needs of professional transport, making its range as one of the most comprehensive found in the commercial vehicles market. Furthermore MOTORS INC. as sole Authorised repairer, offers IVECO customers a full suite of services, maintenance support and parts supply for the entire range.

DACIA DUSTER COMMERCIAL WINS ‘BEST 4X4 VAN’ FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN WHAT VAN? AWARDS 2018 • ‘SHOCKINGLY AFFORDABLE’ LCV PRAISED FOR ITS VALUE AND ON AND OFF-ROAD DRIVING DYNAMICS • COMBINES SUV COMFORT AND FEATURES WITH 4X4 CAPABILITY AND A PAYLOAD OF 550KG

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he Dacia Duster Commercial 4x4 has retained its grip on the Best 4x4 Van category at the What Van? Awards 2018, winning the honour for the third consecutive year at a presentation ceremony held in London this afternoon.

Based on the Dacia Duster – the most affordable new SUV in the UK – the Duster Commercial 4x4 once again took the title after impressing the expert judging panel with its rugged goanywhere capability and unrivalled value.

Combining the driveability and comfort of an award-winning SUV with a 1,604litre maximum load capacity and the low P11D cost and other financial benefits of being classified as an LCV, the Duster Commercial is the perfect vehicle for those who need a spacious working vehicle that can venture off-road when required.

James Dallas, Editor, What Van? said: “The Dacia Duster 4x4 is great value for money, drives well on the road and is a good option for customers in rural areas, such as farmers, vets, utility companies or park rangers who regularly need to venture off the beaten track into terrain 06 motoring | December 2017

that may prove inaccessible to most small or light vans.”

On the Duster Commercial 4x4 winning the award for the third year in a row, Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Duster Commercial retain its crown and especially when it’s competing against much more expensive rivals. The win underlines how Dacia is not only out in front when it comes to providing passenger car buyers with an awardwinning ‘no-nonsense’ product, but is also doing the same for cost-conscious LCV customers who need a vehicle that’s dependable and highly capable on and off-road.”

The Dacia Duster Commercial 4x4 has a flat load area in lieu of rear seats and a payload of 550kg. Available in two

different trim levels – Ambiance and Lauréate – the Duster Commercial 4x4 receives Bluetooth connectivity, electric front windows and a heated rear screen even on entry-level versions. The Lauréate version adds features such as cruise control, leather steering wheel, alloy wheels, air conditioning and electric heated door mirrors.

The Duster Commercial is offered with one business-oriented diesel engine – the dCi 110 unit, the best-selling Groupe Renault diesel powertrain, either as a 4x2 or a robust, go-anywhere 4x4. The 4x2 dCi 110 returns up to 64.2mpg (NEDC Combined), with CO2 emissions as low as 115 g/km and is available from £10,095 (excluding VAT) for the Ambiance entrylevel trim. Meanwhile, the 4x4 dCi 110 returns up to 60.1mpg (NEDC

Combined), with CO2 emissions as low as 123 g/km.

Dacia offers a comprehensive selection of low-priced option packs to help owners secure payloads and protect their vehicle during a life of hard work. There is a choice of steel or mesh bulkheads between the passenger and cargo areas; privacy film for the tailgate window and mudguards.

The What Van? Awards are decided by the expert editorial panel of What Van? magazine, calling on their combined decades of experience in the light commercial vehicle industry. They seek to reward the best products, companies and services in the industry for their ability to make life easier, cleaner, safer and more efficient for light commercial vehicle operators in the UK.

SEAT SALES GROW 18.7% IN NOVEMBER EAT’s impressive sales momentum continued in November, as the Barcelona-based brand saw strong growth of 18.7% year-on-year. The carmaker again surpassed the 40,000 unit barrier last month, delivering a total of 40,400 cars, compared to 24,000 in the penultimate month of 2016. Once again, solid performance in Germany (+25.6%) and Spain (+19.8%) boosted the monthly results. In addition, other markets such as UK (+18.5%), Turkey (+58.0%), Belgium (+30%), The Netherlands (+29.5%) and Poland (+29.1%) also performed strongly.

SEAT’s global sales have gone up by 14.7% so far this year, with just one month left of 2017.

From January to November, SEAT sold 435,500 vehicles, which is 56,000 more than in the same period of 2016 (379,500).

With this result, the brand has already exceeded the sales figure achieved in all of 2016, when the year closed with almost 409,000 vehicle deliveries.

SEAT Vice-President for Sales and Marketing Wayne Griffiths pointed out that “in November, we maintained our October growth performance. We are finalising a very positive final quarter, which translates into an unbeatable end result for a year where we have become one the fastest growing brands in Europe.

Surpassing the sales figure of all of 2016 when there is still a month left before concluding the year is an excellent achievement, and one we have accomplished

S ŠKODA KODIAQ BEARS BLUE LIGHTS

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ith over 110 years of supporting the emergency services, ŠKODA continues its legacy with the launch of the marque’s latest addition to its emergency services vehicle line-up – a fully converted ŠKODA Kodiaq Rapid Response Vehicle. ŠKODA has unveiled its most versatile emergency services vehicle ever. The rugged Kodiaq SUV lends itself perfectly to emergency service conversion thanks to its practicality, multiterrain abilities and class-leading space for passengers and essential specialist equipment.

When fully converted the vehicle features 360-degree visibility thanks to powerful LED signal lights built into the front screen, grill, tailgate and number plate – all complemented by a 100-amp three tone siren.

Kodiaq features a host of smart-assistance and safety features to optimise the safety of the driver and passengers.

Safety systems help the driver stay safe when changing lanes, keep their distance from the vehicle in front and provide pedestrian detection and protection. The Kodiaq offers up to 2,065 litres of space in the rear, travel for up to seven occupants, full Smartphone connectivity plus useful options such as door edge protectors, remote boot opening and wireless phone charging. The emergency services can also benefit from a modified chassis equipped to deal with the demands placed on it during its working life on the road. Stateof-the-art medical technology and the inclusion of luggage compartment with a roll-out tray and a back-up electricity source can mean the difference between life and death for those the Kodiaq is responding to.

Making its debut alongside the Kodiaq SUV is the ŠKODA

Superb 280, which has entered into the ŠKODA fleet line-up as a covert Police Car. The 2.0 TSI 280PS is the most powerful production ŠKODA ever built and makes the ideal companion to a covert Police Officer undertaking a pursuit. The turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine accelerates from 062mph in just 5.8 seconds and for extra performance and composure it offers DSG transmission and four-wheel drive as standard. The 660-litre boot is the biggest in its class and its spacious cabin carries driver, passengers and any specialist equipment comfortably. ŠKODA has introduced a ‘onestop shop’ package for emergency services fleets, which allows vehicles to be purchased directly or financed through Volkswagen Financial Services.

Fleet managers now have the option of contract hire for added flexibility and value-for money or they can opt for a cost-effective leasing package.

Alongside hassle-free finance solutions, ŠKODA fleet can provide the vehicles fully converted to suit specific requirements, and fleet managers have the peace of mind that the conversion, breakdown recovery, service, maintenance and repair requirements are built into one package. ŠKODA’s emergency vehicle line-up also includes a Superb Estate Police Dog Vehicle that features two fibreglass temperature controlled dog kennels in the rear that fully meet RSPCA and DEFRA requirements. The Octavia Estate Scout ambulance conversion is a strong contender for use as a rapid response unit thanks to its agility, practicality and impressive load space to carry equipment.

The ŠKODA Octavia, Yeti, Rapid Spaceback and Fabia models further provide reliable and affordable solutions for emergency services.

thanks to the extension and renewal of the range and the hard work carried out by the entire team and our dealer network”.

This sales increase has led seven of SEAT’s twelve main markets to post all-time record high sales figures for the January to November period. By countries, the brand grew by 14.8% in Germany, with a total of 94,900 vehicles sold; 18.5% in the United Kingdom (52,300), 13.4% in Turkey (19,400), 16.5% in Austria (16,600), 33.7% in Switzerland (9,400), 5.8% in Israel (8,300) and by 5.2% in the Czech Republic (7,800). Furthermore, Spain remains the brand’s second largest market behind Germany with 88,400 vehicle deliveries, which is 21.3% more than in 2016.

THE IBIZA, A CONTENDER IN THE CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD IN EUROPE IN 2018 For the first time in its history, SEAT has one of its very own cars – the Ibiza – rubbing shoulders with six other models as a finalist in the prestigious Car of the Year Award in Europe in 2018. The winner will be announced on 8th March at the 88th International Geneva Motor Show. This recognition comes in a very special year for SEAT, as the company is about to embark on its biggest ever product offensive, which will include a third SUV, seating up to seven passengers.

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REVEALED: THE TEN SAFEST CARS OF THE YEAR • THATCHAM RESEARCH REVEALS TOP TEN SAFEST CARS OF THE YEAR • FEATURED CARMAKERS SHOW COMMITMENT TO ACCIDENT REDUCTION BY FITTING PIONEERING ADAS TECHNOLOGIES AS STANDARD

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hatcham Research revealed the ten-car longlist for the hotly contested What Car? Safety Award 2018. As the panel of expert judges gather to decide on the year’s safest car, their focus will be on emerging car safety technologies designed to prevent accidents.

This year, vehicles must have standard-fit Lane Keep Assist systems, to help avoid some of the most dangerous collision types seen on UK roads. All the top ten cars also have standardfit Autonomous Emergency

Braking systems, which operate at city and motorway speeds and can detect pedestrians. In addition, judges will give extra merit to vehicles with AEB systems that can identify cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

“The top ten safest cars of the

year all have standard-fit Lane Keep Assist systems. These systems actively steer away from road edges and lane markings to prevent dangerous ‘run-off road’ and head-on accidents. With six per cent[1] of A-Road crashes involving head-on collisions, this

should be the next life-saving technology fitted by carmakers who want to signal their intent to prioritise driver safety,” comments Matthew Avery, What Car? Safety Award panellist and director of research at Thatcham Research.

“Drivers buying a new car should expect AEB on their vehicle. It’s now an essential standard-fit safety system, just like the seatbelt,” says Avery.

“And if the car doesn’t have AEB? Walk away and find one which does.”

THE CAR SAFETY TECH TO WATCH OUT FOR

The What Car? Safety Award judges[2] will also examine the relative performance of differing AEB systems, and other car safety technologies such as: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): As with AEB, ACC can use cameras, radar or lidar to determine the gap to the vehicle in front. Unlike normal cruise control, adaptive systems use the radar (or sometimes camera) to maintain a safe following distance, regardless of the speed set. Drivers that use ACC have been shown to have fewer collisions since it helps to condition the driver to maintain a safe distance to the car in front.

Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS): Stops drivers moving into the path of an overtaking vehicle that is hidden in the blind spot. It commonly uses radar, to sense the presence of another vehicle including motorcycles and will give a visual or audible warning usually a light in the wing mirror or door pillar - to alert the driver. Some intervene by braking or steering back into lane. While only 3 per cent[3] of motorway accidents involve one car pulling in front of another, at the high speeds of those roads the consequences can be disastrous.

Cyclist AEB: Vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, account for 30 per cent[4] of all fatalities or serious injuries across the EU each year.

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The smaller size and more erratic movement of cyclists compared with cars makes them harder for standard AEB systems to track. As with pedestrian AEB, cyclist detection systems use better sensors and algorithms to detect the presence of cyclists and respond to their movements. The performance of AEB systems in detecting cyclists is coming into Euro NCAP test protocols from 2018.

Driver Monitoring: Some systems can monitor and in turn warn the driver if they are distracted or have been inattentive for a prolonged period – and some which will pull the car over to the side of the road if the driver has not responded.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert: monitors an approaching vehicle from the side and warns the driver or applies the brakes to prevent them from reversing from a parking space into the path of another vehicle.

92[5] injuries occurred in 2016 as a direct result of reversing cars.

Avery continues: “The future of car safety is in the technology. A five-star Euro NCAP rating guarantees drivers a safe car. But some are still safer than others and this award is about celebrating those carmakers who continue to push the boundaries of safety, going above and beyond even the exacting levels that a five-star Euro NCAP rating demands.”

THE TOP 10 SAFEST CARS OF THE YEAR The 10 cars the judges will consider for the What Car? Safety Award 2018 in alphabetical order: The 10 safest cars of 2017 Honda Civic Mercedes X-Class Subaru Impreza Subaru XV Toyota C-HR Vauxhall Insignia Volvo S90 / V90 Volvo XC60 VW Arteon VW T-Roc