Motoring March 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: MCLAREN HYPER-GT | F1 SEASON REVIEW | PORSCHE LONDON MOTOR SHOW 2017 | SEAT ATECA | DS 4 CROSSBACK MOONDUST LIMITED EDITION | HONDA FUTURISTIC MOTORCYCLE | ECO NEWS: RENAULT ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY | DRIVING ABROAD

The Malta Independent on Sunday. March 2017

NEW PEUGEOT 3008 SUV CAR OF THE YEAR 2017 also inside

Friuli Venezia Giulia Motoring Escape VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT LIVIO FELLUGA

DISCOVER A LAND

OF CONTRASTS

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA – THE NORTHEAST ITALIAN REGION BORDERING AUSTRIA, SLOVENIA AND THE ADRIATIC SEA. HOME TO THE SHARP-PEAKED DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS AND VINEYARDS PRODUCING WHITE WINES. THE GREAT VARIETY OF LANDSCAPES MATCHES THE RICH AND VARIEGATED CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT WAS DETERMINED BY A COMPLEX HISTORY AND BY THE CONFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT CIVILIZATIONS IN THIS TERRITORY. FOR THIS REASON, FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA LOOKS LIKE A SMALL UNIVERSE WITH MANY DIFFERENT TRADITIONS: IT IS THE “LAND OF CONTRASTS”.

A driving trip in this region is wonderful.

Impressive mountain landscapes to the north, dominated by the Carnia and Julian Alps, the majestic Carso plateau with its rocks and the tens of caves produced by erosion, a variegated coastline, scattered with many lagoons, rocky and sandy beaches.

within the Roman Empire. The archaeological excavations have not brought to light everything regarding the the Roman Era city; nevertheless those that have been found are certainly one of the best-preserved testimonies to Ancient Rome’s grandeur. Among the jewels of this city are Aquileia’s Patriarchal Basilica, built c. 1000, and brilliant with its magnificent 4th-Century mosaics.

5 REASONS TO VISIT FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA COASTAL PATHS, ROMAN RUINS AT AQUILEIA

LAGOONS AND MOUNTAIN DRIVING

Aquileia, with its immense archaeological site and its Patriarchal Basilica, is an artistic and historical treasure trove. It was added to Italy’s register of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998. It was also one of the largest and richest Mediterranean cities

Friuli Venezia Giulia offers diverse landscapes to explore. Drive to the Carnic Alps to embark on a high-altitude trek through woodlands and upland meadows to see the Dolomites, or drive down the coastline to explore beaches and lagoons and the cliffs of the Duino Regional Nature Reserve.

Cliffs off Duino Regional Nature Reserve

A FOOD LOVER'S DREAM

WINE TASTING Friuli’s Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia can be found on smart wine lists all over the world. Experiencing them first hand at wineries scattered around the region is a wonderful experince. The Collio Goriziano, Colli Orientale and Carso DOCs growing regions are less than an hour’s drive apart, but offer an incredible variety of landscapes and winemaking styles.

Aquileia Mosaics

Prosciutto San Daniele

The cooking traditions of Friuli Venezia Giulia are influenced by the Slavic, central European and Venetian cultures.

The cuisine relies on simple recipes and genuine ingredients: meat, dairy, sausages and legumes, used to create tasty specialties. Some typical dishes of the area are polenta, “porcina”, a dish made with boiled pork meat and sausages served with sauerkrauts and mustard, and the several soups rich in vegetables and legumes. The most important typical product of the region is Prosciutto of San Daniele, wellknown and exported worldwide, followed by Montasio cheese and Sauris smoked ham.

TIME FOR A SPRITZ IN UDINE Although Udine lost its regionalcapital status to Trieste in the 1950s this city remains Friuli’s cultural capital today. Enjoy the Tiepolo frescoes including the Oratorio della Purità chapel and enjoy the city’s friendly wine bars.

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Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio

Fratelli Felluga, 2013

Livio Felluga, Friulano

FRIULI VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT >

LIVIO FELLUGA

Livio Felluga Vigneto, 2013

THE LIVIO FELLUGA WINERY IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY RESPECTED IN ITALY’S FRIULI REGION. LIVIO FELLUGA IS RECOGNIZED AS THE MAN WHO RE-ESTABLISHED FRIULI'S WINEMAKING HERITAGE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR THAT HAD SEEN THE RURAL POPULATION MOVE AWAY ABANDONING THE CROPS. CONVINCED THAT ONLY HIGH-QUALITY VITICULTURE COULD BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE FRIULIAN COUNTRYSIDE, LIVIO BEGAN TO RESTORE OLD VINEYARDS AND PLANT NEW ONES, INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES.

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ivio Felluga established his winery in 1955 in the town of Brazzano with estate vineyards in the hills of Rosazzo in Friuli. He went on to introduce the concept of terroir wines and put the focus on quality wine.

Today the winery has 160 hectares of vineyards in Colio and Colli Orientali del Friuli, produces about 65 thousand cases of wine annually, and exports to over 70 countries.

Livio Felluga was the fifth generation of a winemaking family that started out in Istria, now part of Austria. His four children – Andrea, Elda, Filippo, and Maurizio–currently manage the winery with Andrea in charge of winemaking.

“My family has now been making wine for five generations.

In fact, it would be fair to say that wine has always put bread on our table. The Felluga story started in Istria, which was then still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was there that my greatgrandfather, a farmer, and my grandfather, a vine grower, made

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is considered one of the finest wine zones there is. Time has proved me right.” – Livio Felluga (1914-2016)

COLLI ORIENTALI FRIULANO DOC

Luigi Felluga

Refosco and Malvasia. We had vineyards and a small trattoria at Isola d’Istria. Then one day my father decided to branch out. In 1920, he sent his son, my father Giovanni, to manage the family wine trade in nearby Grado, the delightful seaside resort of the Hapsburg aristocracy. I was a youngster, and the eldest child in what would become a large family.

Helping my father, and growing up among the wines and the bottles, I acquired skills and experience.

My dream came true in the 1950s, when I purchased my first

LIVIO FELLUGA CREATED THE FAMOUS LABEL IN 1956 TO PORTRAY HIS HILLS, THE SLOPES THAT HAVE SHAPED THE GEOGRAPHY OF LIVIO FELLUGA WINES ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT WAS A PIONEERING MARKETING CONCEPT BORN OF A SIMPLE LOVE OF THE LAND. PUTTING IT ON THE BOTTLE WAS A WAY FOR LIVIO TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LAND AND CULTURE OF FRIULI. THE ORIGINAL MAP IS DISPLAYED AT THE LIVIO FELLUGA WINERY TODAY.

few hectares of vineyard at Rosazzo. Those were difficult years. The hillsides had been totally abandoned, the first factories were being built, and farm workers preferred to move closer to the towns, where there was work. The landscape itself was changing. The challenge was to fight against all this, and to try to make the hills productive again. Today, Rosazzo

Known today as Friulano, it is Friuli's traditional wine with lots of personality and typicity. The colour is canary yellow with greenish hues offering aromas of citrus peel, orange blossom and fresh apple. Well-structured, with harmonious, fruit-led complexity, the palate signs off with a characteristic bitter almond aftertaste. Pairs well with aircured prosciutto crudo, salami and other sliced meats; pairs pleasantly with fish dishes and fresh and fatty cheeses.

LIVIO FELLUGA PINOT GRIGIO FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI DEL FRIULI DOCG This is a different wine from your average, light Pinot Grigio.

The Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio shows white stone fruit and herbal tea aromas and rich flavors that match. It’s well balanced with a refreshing wet stone nuance on the finish. Made of estate grown grapes.

Plan a visit to Livio Felluga in Brazzano. Phone +39 0481 60203. Locally Livio Felluga 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/sistina wineco TEL: 2131 4161

LAND ROVER REVEALS NEW DISCOVERY

New Discovery is highly desirable with unrivalled capability and technology like no other. It has been designed from the outset to enable Land Rover customers to live the lifestyle they aspire to. The result is the best family SUV in the world.

• THE NEW LAND ROVER DISCOVERY IS A FULL-SIZED, THREE-ROW, SEVEN-SEAT SUV WITH UNBEATABLE CAPABILITY AND VERSATILITY • IT EMBODIES LAND ROVER’S DRIVE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, COMBINING BRITISH DESIRABILITY WITH AN UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE • NEW LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ON SALE FROM MUSCATS MOTORS LTD. PRICED FROM €68,000

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF DISCOVERY: Seven principles describe the essence of Discovery and have guided its creation: 1.The Magnificent Seven: every seat is the best seat in the house • Flexible interior provides seven full-sized instantly configurable adult seats 2. A much loved member of the family: keeping you safe for the last 26 years • Semi-autonomous safety technology provides the family peace of mind • Premium interior combines leading design with durable, high-quality materials and space for the whole family

3. King of the hill: unstoppable on all surfaces, all terrains and in all weathers • Land Rover’s full-sized SUV architecture delivers world-beating all-terrain capability • Lightweight aluminium construction saves 480kg, delivering enhanced

efficiency and CO2 emissions from 159g/km* • Super clean Ingenium family grows with adoption of 240PS, four-cylinder diesel engine with 500Nm of torque • Towing king: best-in-class 3,500kg towing capacity** and semi-autonomous Advanced Tow Assist take the stress out of difficult reversing manoeuvres 4. British creativity: designed with charm & sophistication loved by the world • Design retains key Discovery family cues, adding optimised proportions and sophisticated surfaces 5. Storage addiction: discover the space for everything • Up to 2,500-litres of luggage space and clever storage for 21st century family essentials 6. Connects every generation: Ingenious features that make life easier • Digital Discovery equipped with up to nine USB ports and six 12-volt charging points

7. After the roads end: reaching threatened habitats and vulnerable people • New Discovery will continue Land Rover’s work in humanitarian aid and conservation projects around the world The New Discovery embodies Land Rover’s drive to go Above and Beyond, combining British desirability with an unstoppable spirit of adventure. It’s an authentic, three-row, seven-seat SUV with unbeatable capability and versatility.

The fifth-generation model benefits from Land Rover’s strong, safe and light full-size SUV architecture, delivering comfort and adaptability like no other.

The New Discovery is for the digital age.

Ingenious technology keeps your family safe, connected and confident on all surfaces, all terrains and in all weathers to ensure your destination is reached.

The optional Dynamic Design Pack gives New Discovery a more purposeful, stealthlike appearance both inside and out, with features including a contrast roof, athletic front and rear bumper designs, luxurious leather upholstery and a sports-inspired steering wheel and pedals setting it apart.

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A NEW DAWN RISES

THE 2017 F1 SEASON PREVIEW The wait is over. Formula One racing’s bold new era of more dramatic and stimulating cars has finally become reality this morning with Melbourne’s 2017 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

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en teams are fighting out the 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship, with cars that the FIA have promised will be up to five seconds a lap faster than their counterparts in the first three seasons of the turbo-hybrid formula which began in 2014.

A THREE-HORSE RACE AT LAST? Following eight days of pre-season testing, in two sessions in Barcelona, it seems that the leading teams may be a lot closer than they have been since Mercedes’ three-year domination started.

Ferrari have been very fast, with Mercedes not far behind and Red Bull and Williams also looking promising.

But before we start to assess the apparent merits of the leading contenders, let’s take a look at what’s changed since 2016. Quite a lot, is the answer, and the revisions promise much for a racing series that is on the brink of very significant change.

NEW TECHNICAL RULES First up are the dramatic new technical regulations, which have resulted in more

powerful (and slightly heavier) cars, emboldened with extra downforce and mechanical grip from wider tyres. They will, of course, be much faster than their predecessors, and may well prove to be the fastest F1 cars ever. But with so much downforce and grip they will also be much more taxing to drive - and more spectacular.

TYRES As a key part of the new package, Pirelli’s tyres are 25 percent wider than last year’s in the search for a big increase in mechanical grip to go with significant aerodynamic changes.

The fronts are almost the width of the previous rears, rising from 245 mm to 305, while the rears increase from 325 to 405. Their diameter is also slightly bigger.

Just as important, though, is that while Pirelli will supply the usual hard, medium, soft, supersoft and ultrasoft rubber, the individual compounds are different to 2016’s and the aim has been to make them much more durable so drivers can push harder, and longer.

BODYWORK AND AERODYNAMICS The overall width of the cars has increased from 1800 to 2000 mm, facilitating a new front wing that increases from 1650 mm wide to 1800, the width that was mandated between 2009 and

2013. The wing also has a stylish sweptback shape in plan view, and the length of the nose section has been increased slightly.

Where once there were exclusion zones, there is now more freedom for the aerodynamicists in the crucial bargeboard area immediately in front of the sidepods, which is key to the efficiency of the airflow from the front wing to the rear bodywork encasing the power unit and the diffuser at the back of the car.

The sidepods now have a 1600 mm width limit, the same as the floor, which is up from 1400, and also have a sweptback shape in plan.

The diffuser’s leading edge used to start at the rear axle centreline, but now starts 175 mm ahead of it. Where it was previously 1000 mm wide and 125 mm deep, the diffuser’s relative dimensions are now 1050 and 175, to help generate more downforce.

The overall height of the rear wing has decreased from 950 mm to 800, as the width increases from 750 mm to 950. The endplates were formerly rectangular but are now swept back in side elevation, and curve inwards at their bottom edges.

Interestingly, the rulemakers left scope for the return of the ‘shark fins’ last seen back in 2009 on engine covers. Teams including Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams added ‘T-wings’ to these in testing, a solution which may well stay for Melbourne.

Wider tyres mean more grip and faster cornering 06 motoring | March 2017

MINIMUM WEIGHT The minimum weight was 702 kg, but has increased to 722 to allow for the cars’ bigger dimensions.

ENGINES The unloved engine token development system has been shelved, leaving teams free to bring design enhancements during the season so long as they do not exceed their allowance of four engines per driver for the 20 races.

However, manufacturers now face new weight and materials restrictions to place a limit on the scope of their ‘unfettered’ development.

2017 cars will generate more downforce allowing drivers to brake later and carry higher cornering speeds

FUEL ALLOWANCE

Cars are now allowed 105 kg of fuel, an increase of five percent. But there are new restrictions on the fuel blends that teams may use. They may only nominate five for the whole season, with only two permissible per race weekend.

AND NEW SPORTING REGULATIONS There have also been changes to the sporting regulations.

Key among these, given the misfortunes which befell the Mercedes drivers in particular at times last year, the rules on clutch engagement have been tightened

IT’S SO MUCH FASTER IN THE CORNERS. THE FORCE YOU FEEL ON YOUR BODY AND ON YOUR NECK IS MUCH HIGHER. I’VE GOT BRUISES AND BUMPS WHERE I’VE NEVER REALLY HAD THEM BEFORE

up significantly. Starts could thus be really critical again.

The FIA wants to bring more control within the drivers’ hands instead of the engineers’. Last year they looked at radio communications and clutch bite points, as well as making drivers use only a single clutch paddle. Now there are further limitations on clutch control, and the movement and location of the paddles.

There must now be linear control of the torque during clutch engagement, and it is no longer permissible for engineers to map the settings so that most of the available movement of the paddle would be within the optimum bite point of the clutch.

In other words, with the new linear settings, it’s up to the driver to find the exactly correct bite point of the clutch to make the best start without getting excessive wheelspin or bogging the engine down.

Adding to the challenge, there can only be a maximum movement limit of 80 mm in the clutch paddle, and the paddle must be 50 mm clear of anything else in the cockpit so the driver cannot, for example, rest the back of his hand against the dash panel to help steady his digital clutch engagement.

WET-WEATHER STANDING STARTS If a safety car is deemed to be required for the beginning of a race due to wet weather, unlike previously a normal standing start will occur once the track is deemed safe to race. The process will see the safety car return to the pit lane and the cars assembling on the grid for the start.

SO IS THE RACING GOING TO BE BETTER? The 1.6-litre turbo hybrid power units will remain for 2017

The jury is still out on whether the tyres will degrade at a slower rate than their predecessors, as Pirelli promise.

But some drivers whose cars were well set up in the Spanish tests were excited about how much harder and longer they could push before the rubber’s performance goes off. At the same time, however, there doesn’t yet seem to be the same huge lap time benefits between the softs and the supersofts, and the supersofts and the ultrasofts.

This may have been due to temperature zones in testing affecting their individual working ranges and efficiency, however.

The new machines are definitely harder to drive, as expected and intended with their significantly greater aerodynamic download, and therefore they are visually more exciting to watch.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton admitted that he felt the difference physically at the end of the first morning of testing in late February, after completing 73 laps.

"I'm finding the car is much more physical to drive than in the past," he revealed. "It's so much faster in the corners. The force you feel on your body and on your neck is much higher.

I've got bruises and bumps where I've never really had them before.”

Like all of his fellow drivers, however, he changed his training regime over the winter to meet the greater physical demands of the new machines.

In the past the accent was on drivers presenting a minimum weight for the engineers to package, but now they have been training to put on the muscle they need to cope with the greater forces.

So far, observers agree that the cars look and sound better on track, though as usual a machine that is really handling well, with good balance minimising understeer and oversteer by keeping it planted front and rear even when the driver is pushing hard, will always look less dramatic than one which is visually sliding at one end or the other as it surrenders grip.

March 2017 | motoring 07

NEW PEUGEOT 3008 SUV NAMED ‘CAR OF THE YEAR 2017’ THE NEW PEUGEOT 3008 WAS NAMED THE 2017 CAR OF THE YEAR ON MONDAY 6 MARCH IN GENEVA BY A JUDGING PANEL COMPRISING 58 EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS. THE JUDGING PANEL ACCLAIMED ITS STYLE, INTERIOR DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE. THIS PRESTIGIOUS TROPHY JOINS THE TWENTY OTHER PRIZES THE NEW PEUGEOT 3008 HAS ALREADY WON. THE VEHICLE IS THE FIFTH PEUGEOT TO WIN CAR OF THE YEAR AND THE FIRST SUV HONOURED IN THE HISTORY OF THE COTY PRIZE.

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ar of the Year 2017: the new Peugeot 3008 SUV arrived right on time! It appeals to choosy customers who want to stand out and have new experiences, aiming to become a major contender in

the compact SUV category. The new PEUGEOT 3008 offers a unique blend of style, comfort and road handling. The spectacular PEUGEOT iCockpit® is state of the art and gives new meaning to being in the driver's seat. It offers a more intuitive and intense driving experience, with a compact steering wheel, 12.3” head-up display and central

capacitive touchscreen console with ergonomic piano keys to top it all off.

The new PEUGEOT 3008 also offers a number of driving aids and other high-tech equipment, as well as seamless connectivity.

Nearly 100,000 customers have already placed orders in Europe. 84% chose Allure, GT Line or GT finish, contributing to an upgrade of the Lion brand. Manufactured in Sochaux, it received the Origine France Garantie (made in France) label.

PEUGEOT has received the prize for Car of the Year for the second time in three years. The new PEUGEOT 3008 IS the first SUV winner since the creation of the trophy in 1964. It is also the fifth PEUGEOT vehicle named Car of the Year, following the 308 in 2014, the 307 in 2002, the 405 in 1988 and the

504 in 1969.

The Car of the Year prize is awarded by a judging panel comprising 58 experienced journalists from 22 countries. Thirty models have been competing since early 2016. On 6 March 2017, on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, the new PEUGEOT 3008 won over the panel in the final vote.

“I am particularly proud and very pleased that the new PEUGEOT 3008 has just won the 2017 Car of the Year prize.

This trophy is the culmination of five years of incredible work by the brand's teams and our group.” Jean-Philippe Imparato, CEO of the PEUGEOT brand.

PORSCHE CONFIRMED FOR THE LONDON MOTOR SHOW 2017 • 2017 PORSCHE 911, PANAMERA, CAYENNE AND MACAN MODELS CONFIRMED FOR THE LONDON MOTOR SHOW • PORSCHE CENTRE WEST LONDON TO BRING A SELECTION OF EXCLUSIVE PORSCHE CLOTHING AND MERCHANDISE TO BATTERSEA PARK THIS SPRING • THE LONDON MOTOR SHOW RUNS FROM 47 MAY 2017. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FROM £17 AT THELONDONMOTOR SHOW.CO.UK

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orsche is the latest manufacturer to be confirmed for The London Motor Show 2017 from 4-7 May. The latest Porsche models, including the 2017 Panamera, Cayenne, Macan and the much-revered 911, will be showcased by Porsche Centre West London in Battersea Park this spring. A host of Porsche clothing and merchandise will also be available for show visitors across the weekend.

Porsche Centre West London is one of five

Centres within the Porsche Retail Group, comprising Porsche Centres in Reading, Guildford, Hatfield and Mayfair. Porsche Retail Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche Cars GB. The London Motor Show is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the automotive calendar and is becoming an iconic event in the heart of London, entirely appropriate for Porsche Centre West London's audience.

Alec Mumford, Chairman of The London Motor Show, commented: “We are delighted to have Porsche Centre West London at The London Motor Show. Porsche is the latest

big-name manufacturer confirmed for the event further adding to superb spectacle on offer for show-goers. The latest Porsche cars and merchandise on display at the show will be a massive crowd-pleaser to visitors to the show across the weekend.”

Porsche Retail Group Marketing Manager Simon Gardiner said: “We are looking forward to showcasing the very latest Porsche cars and merchandise to visitors at The London Motor Show. The event is ideally situated to all of our Porsche Retail Group Centres and we are excited to use this show to meet all of the loyal customers and Porsche fans across the weekend.”

DOUBLE WIN FOR MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS AT 2017 FLEET NEWS AWARDS he Mercedes-Benz EClass has been named ‘Best Executive Car’ and ‘New Company Car of the Year’ at this year’s Fleet News awards – the latter is voted for by the Fleet News readers and shows how well the new E-Class has been received.

The E-Class won praise from the jury thanks to its low running costs, stylish design, and impressive refinement. The EClass is also widely recognised as one of the most advanced cars in its segment, thanks to its driving assistance systems.

The judges commented: “Innovative technology ensures the E-Class offers low realworld emissions, while highly comfortable seats and a smooth ride make this the perfect car for long distances. With refined drivetrains, low running costs and high residuals, the

T

cavernous estate model further tips the balance in the favour of the E-Class.”

Rob East, Head of Fleet, Mercedes-Benz Cars UK, added: “Our objective is to be number one in every segment – E-Class delivers that objective through class-leading technology and a truly outstanding sales performance since launch.

We’ve now added the E-Class Estate, E-Class All-Terrain, EClass Coupé and 4MATIC to the range, making it more appealing than ever before to both fleet and private buyers.”

The E-Class Coupé is available to order now, with first cars arriving from May. The new EClass Cabriolet will go on sale in the summer with first deliveries towards the end of the year. The E-Class All-Terrain also goes on sale within the next few months.

March 2017 | motoring 9

ANOTHER FIVE STARS FOR THE SEAT ATECA IN THE LATIN AMERICAN NCAP TESTS

IN JUNE 2016, THE SEAT ATECA OBTAINED FIVE STARS IN THE EURO NCAP SAFETY TESTS, DEMONSTRATING THE HIGH LEVEL OF SAFETY OFFERED BY THE SPANISH BRAND’S NEW COMPACT SUV.

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y managing to achieve these results, this time in the Latin NCAP, the SEAT Ateca demonstrates once again that offers a great/TOP safety. The results achieved in adult and child

protection have been especially outstanding, in which the Ateca reach five stars. Ateca is the very first SUV of the Brand SEAT and within the first year of debut, it keeps moving through a very successful path. Ateca is the first step in SEAT’s biggest product offensive ever, followed by the updated Leon and the recently launched all-new Ibiza. Arona will complete the product offensive in the second half of the year.

The Latin New Car Assessment Programme (Latin NCAP) provides consumers with independent and transparent information regarding the safety levels of different models available in the Latin American car market. With the Ateca, three types of crash tests were carried out with adult and child test

dummies; a front impact test, a side impact pole test and a side deformable barrier test. The ESC (Electronic Stability Control) SBR (Seat Belt Reminder) systems were also evaluated, not forgetting the car’s capacity and shape that allow for the installation of the different child restraint systems available in the Latin American market.

It’s worth noting too that the Pedestrian Protection performance and the Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEB) have also received awards from Latin NCAP, the latter of which is an optional feature in the Latin American market. And no less important is that although the crash tests carried out by Latin NCAP differ slightly from those done by Euro NCAP, since 2016 they

have been noticeably toughened and made more demanding. This means achieving five stars (the highest score Latin NCAP can give) even more difficult and therefore more commendable.

The advanced safety systems that come with the SEAT Ateca have once again demonstrated its total efficacy. It comes with seven airbags, including driver knee airbags, as well as seatbelts with pretensioners in the front and load limiters in the front and in the rear of the car. Other stand-out safety features of the new SEAT Ateca include the Isofix and Top Tether anchoring points on the outboard rear seats, tiredness detection, speed limiter and the visual fasten-seatbelt reminder in front and rear seats.

DS 4 CROSSBACK MOONDUST LIMITED EDITION

2017 SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION

STARTING THE SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION OFF IN STYLE, DS AUTOMOBILES IS LAUNCHING A NEW LIMITED EDITION: DS 4 CROSSBACK MOONDUST.

ver faithful to the styling philosophy of DS and focused on personalisation, the exclusive model - of which only 25 are available in the UK features a matt paint finish and

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10 motoring | March 2017

higher levels of equipment.

DS Automobiles is primarily designed for customers looking to express their individuality and DS 4 CROSSBACK fully ascribes to that aim, having won over numerous customers

seeking to express their individual personalities.

Following the DS 4 CROSSBACK Terre Rouge limited edition offered in an exclusive matt Orange Tourmaline body colour

launched for the 2016 AutumnWinter collection, the 2017 Spring-Summer collection is now making its debut with a new limited edition - DS 4 CROSSBACK Moondust. Its platinum grey colour also has a

special matt paint finish, similar to that used on the capable DS 3 Performance Black model.

The DS 4 CROSSBACK Moondust subtly combines refinement with technology, and includes Mirror Screen for smartphone access, DS LED Vision for a better view of the road and a reversing camera. DS 4 CROSSBACK Moondust limited edition – of which only 25 are being made available in the UK from May - features Basalt Black grained-leather seats to amplify the elegance of this exclusive model. Orders can now be placed in DS Stores or DS Salons, or online at www.dsautomobiles.co.uk.

There is a choice of three engine / powertrain combinations that customers can choose from that offer high efficiency from the accomplished BlueHDi 120 diesel, the award-winning PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines and the latest ‘quickchanging’ EAT6 (Efficient Automatic Transmission with 6speeds).

DS 4 CROSSBACK Moondust limited edition is based on the highly-equipped CROSSBACK trim level (which accounts for one-third of all DS 4 sales) and has the following key specification features.

PLANNING A ROAD TRIP ABROAD?

HERE ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN PLANNING YOUR NEXT MOTORING TRIP BY PAUL VELLA, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT RMF

DOCUMENTS

When driving abroad you may be asked to produce your documents at any time. Make sure that they are in order and readily available to avoid the risk of a police fine or even having your car taken away.

Documents to take include a valid full driving licence, driving licence paper counterpart – if you have a photocard licence, an international driving permit (if necessary), vehicle registration document (log book), motor insurance certificate, passport(s) and your travel insurance documents.

If you are taking a vehicle abroad that is company owned, hired or borrowed you will need a letter of authorisation from the registered keeper. In addition you will need to take either the original vehicle registration document (log book) or a Vehicle on Hire certificate. It’s always a good idea to take out travel insurance for your trip abroad to ensure that you’re covered for accidents and emergencies.

TYRES

Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth before you go. Most countries have the

same requirement as in Malta- a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference.

Tyres wear out quickly after they get down to 3mm so if they are this worn think about getting them replaced before you go.

QUICK DO’S AND DON’TS

Emergency In an emergency 112 is the European emergency call number you can dial anywhere in the European Union in case of accident, assault or in any other distress situation. Drinking and Driving With regards to drinking and driving there is only one safe rule – if you drink, don’t drive. Laws are strict and the penalties severe. Mobile Phones Use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in many countries. Spectacles Take a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them – especially if you are the sole driver. Think right It’s easy to forget to drive on the right, particularly after doing something familiar, such as leaving a petrol station or car park. Reflective jackets Many countries require all drivers including visitors to carry reflective jackets. Warning triangle - many countries require visiting motorists to carry a warning triangle, so it is better to have one in your car you might even need it, it will keep motorist warned.

Speed-trap detection devices The use or possession of devices to detect police radar is illegal in most European countries. Penalties can include fine, driving ban, and even imprisonment.

Some countries now also prohibit the use of GPS based navigation systems which have maps indicating the location of fixed speed cameras meaning that you must deactivate the ‘fixed speed camera’ PoI (Point of Interest) function.

Show your card. The RMF membership card includes the ‘show your card’ symbol on the reverse which gives access to hundreds of discounts in Europe and the USA.

HONDA

FUTURISTIC MOTORCYCLE BASED ON THE NM4 VULTUS IN THE FEATURE FILM “GHOST IN THE SHELL” Honda has supported the production of the feature film “GHOST IN THE SHELL”, produced by Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and provided its highly-acclaimed large motorcycle model “NM4 Vultus”, whose futuristic style has been very popular, as the base model for the hero bike in the film.

Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese manga, “Ghost in the Shell” is set in the near future and stars Scarlett Johansson as Major, the first of her kind, a human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. Beat Takeshi plays her boss, Aramaki. The film is directed by Rupert Sanders.

The NM4 Vultus was developed under the keywords of “Neo-futuristic” and “COOL”, and was launched in April 2014. The ideal fit

between the concept and styling of the NM4 Vultus and the worldview of the film led to the provision of the vehicle for filming. The vehicle in the film was based on design sketches provided by Honda, finessed by the film production team, and subsequently placed in the film as the hero bike ridden by the lead character.

The vehicle helps to make the futuristic world depicted in the film more realistic.

The film “GHOST IN THE SHELL” will be released in more than 50 countries and territories around the world on March 31. Further details about the film are available at: http://www.ghostintheshellmovie.c om.

The NM4 Vultus-based vehicle used in the film is scheduled to be showcased at “33rd Osaka Motorcycle Show 2017” (Saturday, March 18 – Monday, 20), and “44th Tokyo Motorcycle Show” (Friday, March 24 – Sunday, 26).

March 2017 | motoring 11

ECO NEWS

RENAULT REACHES MILESTONE OF 100,000 E.V. BATTERIES LEASED

R

enault has signed its 100,000th electric vehicle battery leasing contract via RCI Bank and Services, the financial services arm of Groupe Renault.

Renault, Europe’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has offered battery leasing since the launch of its first electric vehicle.

Even in those countries where it is also possible to purchase the battery, leasing remains the preferred solution for the majority of our customers. In the UK, 94 per cent of ZOE owners leased their battery in 2016.

A REASSURING OPTION Because of Renault’s lifetime warranty on leased batteries, this option brings considerable peace of mind to users. If the battery fails, or if its energy capacity drops significantly, Renault will change or repair it free of charge, for the duration of the vehicle’s lifecycle. Therefore, used car buyers benefit from a guaranteed level of battery performance, which is a significant advantage for owners.

Thanks to battery leasing, from later in 2017, owners of a ZOE equipped with a 22kWh pack will be able to upgrade to the Z.E. 40 battery, and benefit from increased range (NEDC range of 250 miles, real-world range of 186 miles in temperate conditions), for an additional cost – further information and pricing will be announced closer to the time.

12 motoring | March 2017

SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE RATES With the arrival of the new Z.E. 40 battery pack, Renault has introduced a more streamlined pricing scheme which is banded and reflects estimated annual mileage ensuring ZOE drivers only pay for what they need, starting from as little as £49 per month. New for 2017 is the ‘Unlimited’ option for retail customers that has no mileage cap, and

is priced at £110 per month. These options ease the control of running costs for ZOE owners. What’s more, customers get optimal flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing personal needs, since they can switch options at any time.

All Renault ZOE retail purchases include a free, fully installed Chargemaster 7kW Homecharger – able to charge the Z.E.40 battery from flat-to-full in seven to eight hours. All versions provide the peace of

mind of Renault’s 4+ Z.E. warranty and assistance package. The car is protected

by Renault for four years or 100,000 miles (first two years have no mileage limit). For Z.E. vehicles with a Battery Hire Contract, the Renault Assistance cover is linked to the period of the Battery Hire.

In the event of a breakdown, even if you run out of charge, Renault provides emergency roadside repairs or repatriation 24/7 every day of the year plus three years’ European cover.