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The Malta Independent on Sunday • 25 January 2015

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Toyota battles the bumps with improved parking technology spaces where the driver has to make multiple turns of the wheel. IPA’s benefits also include A partially automated1 function to help drivers negotiate their way out of a parallel parking spot where there’s little room in front and behind the vehicle.

magine how much easier life would be if your car realised when you’re about to reverse into a high kerb and could intervene to prevent a costly scrape? Or if you could make your car transparent, so you have a complete view of your surroundings when edging back into a parking space? Toyota is ready to help with clever improvements to its parking support technology that it will be featuring on new models from next year.

Panoramic View Monitor

Intelligent Clearance Sonar Toyota’s Intelligent Clearance Sonar not only detects obstacles, it also helps prevent or mitigate collisions where the driver hits the accelerator by mistake – a familiar hazard when backing out of a parking space. Toyota has improved the system by adding extra sensors that can detect

objects further away, increasing the breadth and depth of scanning. It has also reworked the system’s control logic so that there is less risk of colliding with adjacent vehicles or obstacles, even when using the wrong pedal isn’t the issue, for example when driving slowly around a car park, or pulling out

of a parking space. Toyota’s Intelligent Park Assist system now uses ICS to prevent or reduce the consequences of collisions by deploying automated braking. It can also take the strain out of parking with a new multi-point turn support function that provides automatic steering control1 in tight

Kia GT RIDE smartphone app wins design award ia’s GT RIDE smartphone app – available on both Apple and Android devices – has been awarded a prestigious Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ design award in the Communication Design category. The car racing app, which is available as a free download on both Apple and Android devices, lets users design their own unique race track by moving their smartphone through the air and using its motion sensors to plot a route. Players can then race on their own GT RIDE circuits, steering a Kia pro_cee’d GT around the course and setting a time, before sharing the track with friends over Facebook and challenging them to set their own times. Developed by LA RED and Artificial Rome in conjunction with Kia Motors Europe, the app uses high quality graphics to show off a smooth asphalt freeway and handsome pro_cee’d GT, against the backdrop of a moody sky. In 2013, the Kia pro_cee’d was also awarded a Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ distinction for Product Design, and the app’s high-resolution graphics show off the GT model’s athletic profile, sharp design and fine details in all their glory. Artur Martins, Vice President Marketing at Kia Motors Europe, commented: “As Kia’s first performance cars, the cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT needed something special to differentiate them from other models in the Kia range, and the GT RIDE

app serves that purpose well. Design is a particular strength for Kia, and while a number of our products have won plaudits for their styling and functionality, this app shows the innate creativity at all levels of the business. We’re proud to have the app’s beautiful design acknowledged by Red Dot’s independent experts.”

The Red Dot Design Award The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions, having honoured high quality design since 1954. The internationally-acclaimed seal of quality features categories for ‘product design’, ‘communication design’ and ‘design concepts and prototypes’. This year, the jury judged 7,096 products according to nine criteria, including degree of innovation, clarity of function, formal quality and sustainability. Of these products, only 101 are awarded a ‘Best of the Best’ award. The award presentation will take place on 24 October 2014 in the Konzerthaus in Berlin. Since it joined the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in December 2013, the app has been downloaded and enjoyed by more than 160,000 players. To find out more about Kia’s GT RIDE app, and to download it, visit www.gt-ride.com. The App can also be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store as KIA GT RIDE.

Vehicles fitted with Toyota’s Panoramic View Monitor can already take advantage of an overhead view of their car, displayed on the navigation system’s screen. The view is being made even clearer with a new See-through View function. At the press of a button, the driver can flip between Moving View, which displays realtime video as if looking down on the vehicle, and See-through View, which gives a driver’s perspective of the car’s surroundings, as if the vehicle were transparent. Compared to Moving View, obstacles

are shown larger, making them easier to spot and avoid. Toyota’s improvements to its parking support technology are intended to make parking safer and reduce the high level of property damage accidents witnessed in car parks worldwide. This in turn supports its mission to help eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries. Toyota’s Integrated Safety Management Concept sets the direction for the development of both vehicles and safety technology. It covers all aspects of driving by integrating individual safety technologies and systems, rather than viewing them as units that function independently. Toyota is committed to a wide range of initiatives that address traffic safety, from developing eversafer vehicles and technologies to helping create a safer traffic environment and engaging in educational activities.

Britain’s first VW Type 2 Samba for auction truly unique 1955 Volkswagen Type 2 Samba Microbus with a fascinating story will go under the hammer in Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Sale which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on the 21st and 22nd of February. The vehicle, estimated at between £70,000 and £75,000, is the first, and thought to be the only surviving,VW Type 2 Samba Microbus imported into the UK.The right-hand drive bus, built at the original VW factory in Wolfsburg, was delivered new into the UK on the 21st November 1955 by John Colborne-Barber, the founder of the first ever VW dealership in the UK. Sambas were never officially imported new into the UK, and as such ‘SGP 62’ is thought to be the only surviving example of the few Wolfsburg-built Type 2s in the country. Colborne-Baber’s long association with Volkswagen started as a result of John being approached by former army officer George LaHaye. After the end of the Second World War, La-Haye, who was stationed in Germany, purchased three new Volkswagen Beetles, the last of which he returned to the UK with. Colborne-Baber showed an immediate interest in the Beetle and made George an offer on a part-exchange for a Wolseley 6/80, which he accepted. Colborne-Baber was so impressed with the Beetle he’d acquired, that he then approached Volkswagen in Germany and began importing Volkswagen vehicles into the UK in 1949. Commenting on this historic vehicle, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick

Whale, said: “This is a fantastic piece of Volkswagen history and as such we expect a lot of interest when it comes up for auction. These vehicles are hugely popular around the globe and collectors are now paying some incredibly sums for them.” In 1992 ‘SGP 62’ was rediscovered in the West Country after 30 years in storage. It has been professionally restored over the last 18 months as a faithful reproduction of its condition as used by the Colborne-Baber family. ‘SGP 62’ has been restored, as much as possible, to original specification with a few additional safety and convenience features, whilst retaining its completely original appearance. A new bespoke period-correct Devon interior, modelled on the design that was enjoyed by the Colborne family, was created by VW expert Kevin Morgan including a correct Osokool fridge and Dudley stove.These rare items were sourced specially for this bus and are in mint condition.The vehicle also comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Stiftung Auto Museum Volkswagen as well as a personal letter from the son of Mr ColborneBaber regarding the bus. Nick added: “This is a beautiful and rare Samba Microbus, historically important in terms of its VW legacy in the UK. It’s ready to be appreciated and enjoyed and I hope the new owner will love it just as much as the Colborne family did.” For more information on the vehicle please visit http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/vw-type-2deluxe--splitscreen-samba-

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 25 January 2015

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The all new Jeep Cherokee: latest legendary SUV tested Text and pictures by John Peel he new Jeep Cherokee launched recently definitely stands out from the competition. Its bold new look and high equipment levels coupled to a very reasonably price tag, exactly the same as offered in neighbouring Italy, should prove popular. Radically styled the new Cherokee will surely not be mistaken for anything else in the same competitive compact SUV niche. The trademark seven-bar grille is still there yet redesigned with the vertical bars now sweeping over the bonnet lip, while the headlight set up gets the slit-eyed high-set daytime running lights and larger main beams and fog lamps set below. The rest of the Cherokee’s shape conforms to standard compact SUV’s, with a rear sloping roofline and prominent waist and squared off wheel arches. Once inside, the Cherokee impresses further with two-tone delicately sculptured seats and a crystal clear colour TFT screen vying for attention. The infotainment and climate controls are up on the centre console, but most functions can alternatively be controlled via the touchscreen menus. The tachometer and rev counter cluster is most pleasant with a generous info screen in between relaying back a multitude of information, selectable from the steering wheel controls. A lot of thought was surely dedicated to making this new Jeep Cherokee as comfortable to drive as possible. As already mentioned the seats are superb. They not only look great but are immensely comfortable with electric controls for multiple configurations and ventilation. The nine-speed automatic gearbox is simply top

class. The higher the number of gears the more I expect an auto box to frustrate me with multiple gear changes yet this was not the case. On the contrary gear selection is not only perfect but the actual gear change itself is seamless and hardly noticeable. It is also said to contribute to a claimed 16 per cent improvement in efficiency versus the older model. The new Cherokee uses a platform shared with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and in the case of my test model they also shared the same 2.0lt diesel engine. Generating 168bhp it provides enough power for a quoted 062mph in 10.3 seconds, which is quick enough to ensure it never feels slow but not exactly that fast either. Matched to the automatic gearbox its strong point is in reducing fuel economy with the clever four-wheel-drive system acting as front-wheel drive for the majority of the time, changing over to four wheel drive when needed. The Cherokee has a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, with seven airbags, stability control and a selectable four-wheel drive dial to suit off-road conditions. Higher spec models feature a wealth of safety tech and there’s also a clear reversing camera view displayed through the impressive 8.4-inch touchscreen. This screen will also warn you, aided by strategically located sensors, of any obstacles in your way that might damage the car’s bodywork and underside, immensely helpful when venturing off-road especially as visibility low down at the front end is of course nil. Colour arrows will flash on the screen changing from yellow to orange to red along with audible signals, impressive indeed. I cannot end a Jeep review without mentioning

its offroad capability and even though the test only involved mild unsurfaced tracks I did test its steep climbing and cross axled abilities, tests it passed with flying colours. Wheels do leave the ground in difficult situations but its traction electronics superbly overcome any obstacle without spinning a single wheel, and all this with smooth road tyres. Priced and specced at exactly the same levels as in Italy this new medium sized SUV will surely enhance the Jeep brand on our shores.

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 25 January 2015

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Electric car, Coupé and cabriolet – A trio of Audi class wins at the 2015 What Car? Awards eaffirming its status as an enduring What Car? favourite, the Audi TT in its recently launched, allnew form, has once again been crowned Coupé of the Year in the respected magazine’s annual awards. Equally importantly, two new variations on the theme of the A3, itself a winner of the overall Car of the Year Award in 2013, have also secured important category victories – the A3 Cabriolet dominates its class for a second successive year, and on its debut entry the new A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid proves its mettle by taking on and beating critically acclaimed EV contenders to the title of Electric Car of the Year. In its explanatory account covering the winning Audi models, the experienced judges on the What Car? editorial team dub the A3 Sportback e-tron a ‘no-brainer for business users’, refer to the A3 Cabriolet as ‘one of the best opentops for driving thrills’ and describe the TT as a ‘fabulous ownership proposition’, featuring ‘one of the finest cabins of any car’. The 2015 Coupe of the Year – specifically the TT 2.0 TFSI Sport is the latest in a long line of Audi TTs favoured as What Car? winners, dating back to the revolutionary first generation car,

Triple triumph for Audi at the high-profile What Car? Awards ceremony • Audi TT named Coupé of the Year in the 2015 What Car? Awards • Plug-in hybrid A3 Sportback e-tron wins Electric Car of the Year • For the second consecutive year, the A3 Cabriolet secures the Convertible Car category • Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive and the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE also commended as ‘best buys’ in their respective categories which wowed the judges back in 2001. The TT has been nominated in every one of the past eight years, and has won the category outright in all but one. Explaining the decision to continue the TT’s amazing run of success for yet another year, What Car? Editor Jim Holder said: “The new TT follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, winning our Coupé of the Year Award at the first time of asking. It does so by a big margin, because while there are plenty of sleek and slinkylooking offerings in this market, they all demand some form of compromise from you – either in the way they drive, how easy they are to live with or how much they cost to buy and run. All except the TT. In fact, it’s so good, we wouldn’t bet against it winning this award for years to come.” UK deliveries of the new TT are already in progress, and in addition

to the 230 PS 2.0 TFSI, the new ‘ ultra’ model also makes its debut. Its 2.0 TDI engine produces 184 PS and 380Nm of torque, and a combined MPG figure of 67.3 is possible in line with CO2 emissions of just 110g/km. Prices for the TT range start from £29,770 OTR in Sport specification, rising to £40,270 OTR for the formidable 310PS TTS Coupé.

A3 range maintains its winning streak Singling out the 150 PS 1.4 TFSI version of the A3 Cabriolet Sport with fuel-saving Cylinder-on Demand technology as its specific winner, the What Car? team praises its thriftiness and its “precise steering, performance and hushed refinement”. An interior that “exudes class” with “cabin quality you’d expect on soft-tops twice the price” is also

complimented, and in summary the A3 is lauded as “still the best open-top you can buy.” Prices start at £26,085 OTR for SE models - comprehensive Sport and S line specifications complete the line-up. Sharing the limelight with its premium compact counterpart, the A3 Sportback e-tron “mixes the many merits of the A3 with even more incentive for company car buyers to make electric driving more accessible” according to the judging panel. Both are available to order in the UK now, and first customer deliveries of the A3 Sportback e-tron are due this month. Priced from £29,950, the first series plug-in hybrid in the Audi range offers the potential for up to 176mpg on a full charge can travel for up to 31 miles using electric propulsion alone before the 1.4 TFSI petrol engine intervenes. Overall, a range of

André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën – now in paperback ogether with his colleagues at Citroën, Andre Lefebvre created the Traction Avant (1934), the TUB (1939) – Citroën’s first front wheel drive utility van that was succeeded by the H and HY vans (1947) – the Deux Chevaux (1948), and, last but not least, the DS (1955). From 1923 to 1931 Lefebvre also designed several highly original and outstanding competition cars and recordbreaking automobiles for Voisin. He even drove some these cars in races and record attempts. It is obvious that during his 16 years with Gabriel Voisin he was very much influenced by the ideas of this

illustrious aviation pioneer and car manufacturer. The experience gained during that period gave him the self-confidence to persuade his successive bosses at Citroën that his unorthodox approach to automobile design was what the company needed; first he convinced André Citroën, later Pierre Michelin, then Pierre-Jules Boulanger, and finally Robert Puiseux and Pierre Bercot. His oeuvre for Citroën alone earns him a place of honour among the great automobile designers of the past century. The fact that most present-day cars still carry the DNA of his design philosophy

makes him stand out above other automotive pioneers and innovators. That is why it is amazing that so little is known about this fascinating and brilliant engineer. This book was written in order to remedy that, and to pay tribute to André Lefebvre: the passionate pioneer who left car enthusiasts around the world such an important heritage. André Lefebvre, and the cars he created at Voisin and Citroën by Gijsbert-Paul Berk ISBN: 9781845842444 UPC: 6-36847-04244-8

over 580 miles is attainable on a full charge and a tank of fuel.

Audi ‘Best Buys’ In addition to the outright accolades, two more Audi models received price point plaudits – in the ‘more than £35,000 category’, the new A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra SE Executive earned a commendation in the Executive Car class and in the Family Car sector the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE was rated as the pick of the bunch in the more than £20,000 bracket. Commenting on the outstanding result for Audi UK, Director Andre Konsbruck said: “I am absolutely delighted not only with the quantity of wins Audi has secured in the eyes of What Car? this year, but also in the quality of those wins. The all-new TT and A3 Cabriolet are of course prime examples of state-of-the-art Vorsprung durch Technik, with all the emphasis on definitive design and build and advanced technology that this entails, but it’s the recognition for the new A3 etron in the face of such heralded competition which is the crowning achievement for me. It emphasises for me that wrapping the future in a familiar package that demands no compromises is the right way to travel at this stage.”

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 25 January 2015

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Hyundai Motor Europe President visits Hyundai Malta yundai Malta recently hosted Byung Kwon Rhim, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe. Mr Rhim was visiting Malta to overview Hyundai’s operations and to meet the management and personnel at Hyundai’s showroom in B’Kara. During his visit Mr Rhim reiterated Hyundai’s commitment to make Hyundai one of the most trusted brands in Europe. “Figures over the past years have been confirming that we are moving in the right direction. In fact, in 2014 we managed to reg-

ister higher sales than 2013. Europe plays a very important role in Hyundai’s strategy. This market’s particular needs have shaped some of Hyundai’s most beautiful models such as the ix35, the i30 and now, the new generation i20 which is set to become a game changer even on a local level,” said Mr Rhim. Mr Rhim added that within an environment of global economic slowdown, political uncertainties in emerging markets and fiercer competition, Hyundai should keep focusing on enhancing product competitiveness and customer satisfaction in order to overcome

such difficulties. “We should proactively respond to demands of customers and markets, elevate brand values by launching various eco-friendly cars and localized strategic models, and secure world’s best quality competitiveness. In particular, the Group’s future competitiveness will hinge on our capability to develop innovative technologies and products and to cultivate creative human resources. This is why Hyundai will greatly expand R&D investment to add advanced R&D facilities, and hire more talented researchers,” added Mr Rhim.

Byung Kwon Rhim was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hyundai Motor Europe in January of 2013 and throughout the past two years, his main priorities have been to enhance quality and customer satisfaction at all levels. He previously held the role of President at Hyundai Motor Russia, but, prior to that, Mr Rhim held several marketing positions within Europe, and also served as the Head of Europe Division at Hyundai’s headquarters in Korea. Francesca Mamo, Managing Director of Meridein Enterprises, local importers of Hyundai,

thanked Mr Rhim for his visit to Malta and reiterated her commitment to keep increasing Hyundai’s local presence. “This visit is of great honour to us and we are delighted to have had this opportunity to talk to Mr Rhim about our operations and the challenges we face on a local level. We do acknowledge that the current economic situation is very challenging but we are positive that Hyundai’s very positive brand image will help sustain our work to promote the trustworthiness and the high quality build of today’s Hyundai models,” said Francesca Mamo.

Three-in-a-row for Dacia at What Car? Awards • Dacia Sandero wins 'Best Small Car under £12,000' • Dacia supermini awarded for third consecutive year • Sandero continues to grow in the UK with over 14,000 sold in 2014 acia has picked up the title of What Car? 2015 'Best Small Car for less than £12,000' with its Sandero 1.2 Ambiance hatchback for the third

successive year. After initially picking up the accolade in 2013 following the brand's entrance into the UK car market, and confidently retaining it last year, the stylish, practical and affordable supermini has

taken the honours once more to truly reaffirm its popularity alongside the rest of Dacia's 'shockingly affordable' range. Commenting on the decision to give the award to the Sandero, Jim Holder, Editor, What Car? said: "There are cheap cars and then there's the Dacia Sandero. What really helps the Sandero's case, and boosts its value for money, is its huge interior space. There are few cars in this class that offer this much

room for passengers and luggage." "It's quick enough to feel comfortable in and out of town, and our True MPG tests have revealed it's possible to get within a stone's throw of its official fuel economy. Consider the fact that the Sandero comes with a three-year warranty and the deal looks even better." The Dacia Sandero is a fivedoor hatchback, available in two trim levels with a choice of two

petrol engines and one diesel engine. Pricing starts from EUR9,430 in Malta and the specific Ambience version chosen by What Car? comes with features such as Bluetooth connectivity, electric windows and an ECO driving mode, improving efficiency and fuel consumption figures. For more information on the Sandero, as well as the rest of Dacia's award-winning range, please visit www.autosales.com.mt