IN THIS ISSUE: THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS. JUSTIFY NOTHING. ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR FREEDOM | HONDA HAT TRICK AT WHAT CAR? AWARDS NEW FORD FOCUS ST PERFORMANCE CAR TAKES ON RAP STAR BLAKIE IN UNIQUE TRACK CHALLENGE | 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED CONCEPT TO DEBUT AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW
The Malta Independent on Sunday. February 2019
THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS JUSTIFY NOTHING. ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR FREEDOM
also inside
Discover Piedmont
PIEDMONT VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT DAMILANO
Discover
PIEDMONT THE HILLY REGION AROUND TURIN 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 VINECLAD HILLS INVITES YOU TO FRIENDLY FAMILY-RUN 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.
O 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, 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.
Palazzo della Regione a Torino in Piazza Castello, Turin
Santuario Sant'Anna di Vinadio, Piemonte
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 Asti and Alessandria producing some of the most famous wines including Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato, Dolcetto, Cortese di Gavi, Brachetto, and Grignolino.
Verbano Cusio Ossola
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. 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.
VERCELLI AND NOVARA 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
Cuneo
Vercelli
Santuario Sant'Anna di Vinadio, Piemonte February 2019 | motoring 03
PIEDMONT VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT
DAMILANO
Damilano Vigna Cannubi
THE ORIGINS OF THE DAMILANO FAMILY COMPANY DATES BACK TO THE 1800S, ITS NEBBIOLO GRAPE PRODUCTION OUTPUTTING GREAT CRUS SUCH AS CANNUBI, LISTE, BRUNATE AND CEREQUIO. THEIR ON-VINEYARD SHOP CATCHES THE EYE FOR ITS SLOPING SHELVING – A CONTEMPORARY SPACE IN WHICH TO INQUIRE, TASTE AND ENJOY THE IMPRESSIVE WINES. DAMILANO IS ALSO HOME TO THE MICHELIN-STARRED MASSIMO CAMIA RISTORANTE. THE WINERY PRODUCES PREDOMINANTLY RED WINES, BUT IT IS IN BAROLO THAT THE PRODUCTION REACHES THE HEIGHT OF ITS QUALITY. THE CRUS CANNUBI, RISERVA CANNUBI “1752”, 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 DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES OF LANGA. 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-inlaw, 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
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Wine cellar
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 from the provincial road AlbaBarolo, 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
Damilano wine shop 04 motoring | Fenruary 2019
Paolo, Mario and Guido Damilano
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
Massimo Camia Ristorante
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 are imported by Attard and Co. Food Ltd,Tel: 2123 7555, facebook.com/attardcofood
508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED CONCEPT TO DEBUT AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW • 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED CONCEPT IS AN EVOLUTION OF THE 2018 ALL-NEW PEUGEOT 508 HYBRID AND WILL BE THE NEXT IN A LONG LINE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE MODELS FROM PEUGEOT SPORT • HYBRID POWERTRAIN COMBINES PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY, DELIVERING 0-62 MPH IN 4.3 SECONDS AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 49G/KM (WLTP) • PEUGEOT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ELECTRIFIED MODELS ACROSS ITS LINE-UP BY 2023
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EUGEOT will unveil the highperformance 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept at the Geneva International Motor Show as the brand’s electrification strategy gathers pace. The PEUGEOT SPORT team confirmed plans to develop a range of high performance electric vehicles last year and the new concept car is the first step on the journey towards electrification. The experts at PEUGEOT SPORT took the all-new 508 Hybrid as a starting point and enhanced its design, performance and efficiency. With an advanced PureTech 200 engine and 110bhp electric motor driving the front wheels and a separate 150kW (200bhp) electric motor powering the rear wheels, the four-wheel drive 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and hit a mechanically limited top speed of 155 mph. This electric performance is underpinned by an 11.8kWh battery, which gives the 508
PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept a zeroemission range of up to 31 miles when switched to 100% electric mode and CO2 emissions of 49g/km, on the WLTP test protocols, when in Hybrid mode. When the concept car makes its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show, its redesigned front bumper, which incorporates a 3D-printed valance designed to direct incoming air towards the radiator and new rear diffuser, are just some of the exterior enhancements. The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept car has enhanced aerodynamics, with flaps fitted to the subframes to reduce aerodynamic drag and streamlined winglets located on the quarter panels, where GT Line and GT monograms usually reside. This helps to smooth the flow of air. Adding to the car’s character, the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept comes with a specially designed ‘Selenium Grey’ paint finish which changes in the light and carbon fibre door mirrors, while the iconic Lion badge features the distinctive anodised finish first seen on the PEUGEOT eLEGEND concept car. To maximise driving pleasure, the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept comes fitted with new “comfort fit” seats created with leather and Alcantara® upholstery with Kryptonite and Onyx Black overstitching enhancing the bold design. Inside, the concept car is designed to maximise comfort and efficiency with a touchsensitive gear lever fitted with an Alcantara® section and a sporty
asymmetrical compact steering wheel covered in Alcantara® and carbon fibre inserts. The lower section of the compact steering wheel brings the design cues of the concept model straight to the driver’s fingertips with three PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED lines alternating in Kryptonite and Onyx Black overstitching. The Alcantara® design continues through to the roof, A-pillars and quarter panels, providing excellent visibility augmented by the innovative PEUGEOT i-Cockpit®, which gives drivers intuitive access to the latest on-board technology. The cabin comes fitted with Kryptonite finishing around the door handles and dashboard, along with an all Kryptonite 10”
capacitive HD touch screen and 12.3” head-up digital instrument display panel. The innovative concept car marks the beginning of an important year for PEUGEOT, as it begins making the transition towards a fully electrified range. PEUGEOT has committed to providing an electrified version across its entire range by 2023, with the first commercial Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) model set to arrive later this year. With a rich sporting heritage including the 908 HDI FAP and 3008 DKR, which triumphed in the Le Mans 24-hour race and Dakar Rally respectively, PEUGEOT SPORT is able to tap into a legacy of proven performance cars to inspire the engineering behind the 508
PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept. David Peel, Managing Director of PEUGEOT UK, said: “The work of everyone at PEUGEOT involved in developing our electric dream is starting to move faster than we ever thought possible. The 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept shows what is possible and gives us a taste of things to come over the next five years as we continue the path towards the electrification of our entire lineup.” Tying in with PEUGEOT’s #unboringthefuture ambitions, the 508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED concept will be unveiled at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show.
February 2019 | motoring 05
NEW FORD FOCUS ST PERFORMANCE CAR TAKES ON RAP STAR BLAKIE IN UNIQUE TRACK CHALLENGE
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t takes some serious speed and precision to keep up with energetic MC and music producer Blakie. That’s why Ford teamed up with the 21year old “Can’t see them” and “Bare Energy EP” star for a new film that demonstrates the agility and responsiveness of the allnew Focus ST performance car. Shot over three days on location at the company’s test track in Lommel, Belgium, the film shows Londoner Blakie perform his track “Jump” from the passenger seat of the Focus ST – developed by the specialists at Ford Performance. Sophisticated technologies including an electronic limitedslip differential, anti-lag turbocharging and selectable Drive Modes help the car keep pace in a race with the rapper as he chops and changes his rhythms and tempos. Blakie even free-styled his lyrics especially for the film, to give them a unique Focus ST twist. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/EqGiTaUWrto “Having a film made to a track I wrote in my bedroom was amazing – my mum drives a
Ford so she'll be really happy,” said Blakie. “I loved working with an amazing driver and
experiencing the adrenaline of the Focus ST on a test track.” Featuring enhanced powertrains, chassis and braking, the all-new Focus ST goes on sale this summer in five-door and wagon body styles, and with powerful 280 PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol and 190 PS 2.0litre EcoBlue diesel engines. All track activities were filmed on a closed circuit and monitored by Ford’s safety experts. Anticipated CO2 emissions from 175 g/km and fuel efficiency from 7.6 l/100 km for 2.3-litre EcoBoost, and from 124 g/km and 4.8 l/100 km for 2.0litre EcoBlue. Officially homologated fuel-
efficiency and CO2 emission figures will be published closer to on-sale date. For more information on the new
New Ford Focus ST and other Ford cars and commercial vehicles contact GasanZammit Motors Ltd, Mriehel Bypass. T: 2778 8200, gasanzammit.com
HONDA HAT TRICK AT WHAT CAR? AWARDS • CIVIC TYPE R TAKES HOT HATCH TROPHY FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW • URBAN EV CLINCHES THE COVETED READER AWARD FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED CAR LAUNCH OF 2019 • CR-V HYBRID NAMED BEST HYBRID OVER £30,000 BEATING OFF LUXURY COMPETITION
onda UK has taken a hat trick of honours at this year’s What Car? Car of the Year awards with the Civic Type R taking best hot hatch, the Urban EV taking the reader award for the most anticipated car launch of 2019 and the CR-V hybrid taking the best hybrid over £30,000. The 2019 awards mark the second time in a row the Civic Type R has won the hot hatch of the year, demonstrating the unmatched prowess of the car. 2019 also marks the third time in five years that a Honda has won the reader award – when the Civic Type R won in 2017, it took almost half the votes. This time, the Urban
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EV took eight times as many votes as the car that finished in second place. Held in association with Warranty Direct and widely acknowledged as the ‘Oscars’ of the car industry, the annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards are only given to the cars that set the highest standards in
their class each year. These awards are highly important for both car makers and customers because of the authority and integrity of the What Car? brand. Phil Webb, Head of Car at Honda UK, commented: “Starting a new year with not one but three accolades at one of the
most prestigious automotive awards ceremonies is fantastic. Of course, we know the Civic Type R is a winner but to have What Car? say it, and say it twice in a row, is something special. Compounding that with the overwhelming landslide of a win for the Urban EV and then a pricepoint win for the CR-V hybrid; we have a great 2019 ahead of us.” Steve Huntingford, editor at What Car? commented: “The Civic Type R is a hot hatch that's easy to live with, because it has a comfortable ride and averaged more than 35mpg in our True MPG fuel test? And yet when you take your sensible hat off it’s also utterly and extraordinarily magnificent to drive. “Honda’s decision to not offer its new CR-V SUV with diesel engines was a bold one. But it's paid off, because the car is much more refined as a result, as well as spacious and good to drive. Plus, it still delivers diesel-like fuel economy. “What Car? readers clearly can’t get enough of Honda's new electric car, because the Urban EV garnered almost eight times as many votes as the model that finished second in our Reader Award poll. Put simply, it’s easily the car they’re most excited about seeing in 2019, thanks to its combination of cool, retro styling and electric power.”
THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS JUSTIFY NOTHING. ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR FREEDOM
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he exterior of the New B-Class is described to be "More practical than ever, more chic than ever," with the long wheelbase, slightly lowered roof line and larger, 16 to 19-inch wheels making for dynamic proportions. The relatively squat, progressive front end with flowing transition from bonnet to A-pillar and on to the windscreen, along with the muscular shoulder of the body, underlines the sporty look. The same is true of the new low-profile headlamps, detailed and precisely designed on the basic model with H7 headlamps and LED daytime running lights. The optional MULTIBEAM LED headlamps have an especially sporty look. They allow fast, electronically controlled adjustment of the headlamps to suit the current traffic conditions. The interior of the B-Class is as avant-garde: the free-standing centre display unit is now offered in three different versions. The five air vents feature a turbine look with finely styled air ducts. The ambience lighting with 64 colours and ten colour worlds, allows individual customisation. The seats offer a
more comfortable seating position as well as a larger adjustment range, which increases the maximum headroom. The New B-Class proudly features the MBUX multimedia system, which ushered in a new era with Mercedes me
Connectivity. Its ability to learn thanks to Artificial Intelligence makes the system unique. It creates an emotional link between vehicle, driver and passengers. Its other strengths include touch screen control as standard. The touch screen is part of the integrated MBUX touch control concept. The new B-Class comes with
driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support, thus providing one of the highest levels of active safety. For the first time, the B-Class is able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. For further information visit autosales.com.mt or Kind’s Mercedes-Benz Showroom in Lija.
February 2019 | motoring 07