Motoring May 2016

IN THIS ISSUE: ALFA ROMEO 4C ROSSO COMPETIZIONE | SEAT ATECA | DESIGNER: LAURENS VAN DEN ACKER | TEST DRIVE NEW 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS | DAWN OF JUSTICE JEEP RENEGADE | WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN | NEW DS 3 GIVENCHY LE MAKEUP | BENTLEY RETURNS TO GREEN HELL | FERRARI 488 GTB

The Malta Independent on Sunday. May 2016

The NEW HYUNDAI I10 and I20 GO!

SPECIAL EDITION. REAL DEALS FOR REAL FANS.

ALSO INSIDE

DISCOVER BREATHTAKING SOUTH AFRICA CAPE VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT > SIMONSIG WINE ESTATE

DISCOVER BREATHTAKING SOUTH AFRICA Drakensberg Mountains

SOUTH AFRICA’S DIVERSITY IS UNBEATABLE, STRETCHING FROM PENGUINS WADDLING ON THE CAPE TO HIPPOS IN THE LIMPOPO RIVER. THE DESERTED KALAHARI, NAMAKWA’S SPRINGTIME SYMPHONY OF WILDFLOWERS, ICONIC TABLE MOUNTAIN AND CAPE POINT, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK’S SAVANNAH, DRAKENSBERG & UKHAHLAMBA-DRAKENSBERG PARK - THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS FOR A ROAD TRIP YOU'LL NEVER FORGET. THE BENEFITS OF EXPLORING THE COUNTRY AT YOUR OWN PACE ARE BOUNDLESS AND CHOOSING A ROAD TRIP HOLIDAY MEANS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS OUT ON THE MOST ICONIC SIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

CAPE TOWN AND THE GARDEN ROUTE

he Garden Route is perhaps the most famous driving route in South Africa. Predominantly based within the Western Cape, the journey offers the chance to see some of the most dramatic scenery within the country. Cape Town is a must-see for visitors to the region and it goes without saying that Table Mountain is a sight not to be missed. Leaving the bustling city behind, road trippers can expect lush and diverse scenery along the Garden Route. The journey stretches between Cape Town and the Eastern Cape, with the option of stopping off in the many picturesque towns along the way.

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THE EASTERN CAPE AND ADDO ELEPHANT PARK The Eastern Cape region of South Africa is known for relaxed lifestyle and sandy beaches. It is also one of the most diverse regions within the country, home to South Africa’s only skiing resort Tiffendell as well as the world famous wild beaches in the Jeffery’s Bay area. For those looking to travel around the Eastern Cape by car, one of the best routes to take is from Jeffery’s Bay to East London. Often known as the Sunshine Coast, travellers can expect to discover unspoiled beaches and

Cape Town and Garden Route

outstanding game reserves.

The route takes the N2, which is one of the main highways in South Africa and branches off onto the R72 for those who want a scenic coastal route with historic towns, beautiful beaches and incredible landscapes. Some good stop-offs include Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred and the many small hamlets along the route. Inland, the Addo Elephant Park is a perfect way to experience African wildlife in its natural habitat.

THE DRAKENSBERG AND KWAZULU-NATAL With crisp mountain air, crystal clear streams scattered with waterfalls and unrivalled landscape views, the Drakensberg is the biggest mountain range in South Africa and offers stunning mountain views. Spanning around 200 kilometres, the mountain range is predominantly located in the historical province of Kwazulu-Natal. From Durban or Johannesburg, the main highway into the Drakensberg region is the N3.

THE KAROO NATIONAL PARK AND OUDTSHOORN Away from the coast, travel through Oudtshoorn (the ostrich capital of the world) to the Karoo National Par.

Addo Elephant Park

Drakensberg Mountain views

Oudtshoorn

Based in the region known as the Klein Karoo (little Karoo), visitors can experience the beautiful Swartberg mountain range or explore the Cango Caves. This road trip is based on Route 62, often seen as an alternative to the Garden Route as it runs nearly parallel to the famous scenic drive. It is scattered with wine vineyards, which gives travellers a great excuse to sample some of the high quality South African wines available.

THE LIMPOPO RIVER AND KRUGER PARK The Limpopo area of South Africa is the north most region and borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. One of the best routes to drive is the Limpopo Valley Route which follows the historic Great North Road (now the N1 highway). Visiting Kruger Park is an absolute must. The iconic game reserve is home to lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The park is extremely vast, covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres. It is worth spending a good length of time within the Kruger Park (seasoned safari goers recommend staying between five and seven days in the game reserve).

Limpopo River May 2016 | motoring 03

Simonsig entrance

CAPE VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT

SIMONSIG WINE ESTATE

THE NAME SIMONSIG IS RENOWNED AS AN ESTABLISHED AND LEADING SOUTH AFRICAN WINE ESTATE. NAMED AFTER THE MAJESTIC VIEWS OF THE SIMONSBERG MOUNTAIN, SIMONSIG ESTATE IS SITUATED IN THE FAMOUS STELLENBOSCH WINELANDS REGION, 45 KM EAST OF CAPE TOWN. FRENCH HUGUENOT, JACQUES MALAN, FIRST SET FOOT IN THE CAPE IN 1688. THE LATE FRANS MALAN, SIMONSIG’S FOUNDING FATHER, WAS A PIONEER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE INDUSTRY. FRANS INTRODUCED NEW AND INNOVATIVE WINE STYLES TO THE COUNTRY, ESTABLISHING A UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC CAPE WINE CULTURE.

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wo generations of the Malan family have applied their extensive wine knowledge and understanding of the unique soils and climate conditions of the Stellenbosch region, capturing the essence of this specific terroir in a range of distinguished red and white wines.

Today, Simonsig’s awarded wines are known and appreciated in South Africa and all over the world.

THE REGION OF STELLENBOSCH Stellenbosch holds the honour of being the most well-known and awarded wine region in South Africa. Rich soils and unique locations ideally suited to a variety of grape cultivars have ensured that Stellenbosch continues to dominate South African winemaking. The typography of Stellenbosch is characterised by its undulating red hills with the distinctive high mountains looming in the background. These rolling

Simonsig cellar

hills are not that steep, allowing vines to be planted to their very tops, with the highest vineyards growing at 250m above sea level.

THE SIMONSIG EXPERIENCE In 1971 Stellenbosch became the first wine region in South Africa to establish a wine route as an organised network

of wineries at which tourists could experience region’s winelands.

The Simonsig Estate hosts cellar tours and wine tasting, and also includes a signature restaurant – Cuvée.

WINE TASTING Discover Simonsig’s award winning wines in their tasting room, set amidst the tranquil gardens on the Simonsig Estate. With a cosy fire crackling in the tasting room during winter or flutes of chilled Kaapse Vonkel served on the cool, shady veranda during summer, visitors can enjoy wine tasting all-year round.

CELLAR TOURS From the annual harvesting - usually in January - to the crushing of the grapes, the fermentation process, the stabilization of the white wines and the barrel maturation of the reds – a Simonsig Cellar Tour is an authentic and memorable experience.

Johan Malan, Cellarmaster at Simonsig Estate 04 motoring | May 2016

SIMONSIG CHENIN BLANC. The tropical flavours of this bright straw coloured wine leaps from the glass. On the nose the wine shows intense tropical fruit salad flavours, with beautiful hints of apricot, ripe pears and kiwi fruit. On the palate it shows

freshness with a natural acidity, intense fruit flavours and a lingering fresh finish.

Chenin Blanc is really a showstopper and is suited for any occasion.

BOOKING A WINE TASTING OR CELLAR TOUR AT SIMONSIG: TASTING ROOM - Mon – Fri: 08:30 – 16:30, Sat: 08:30 – 15:30, Sun: 11:00 – 14:30. Formal Tasting: A selection of 5 wines at your table. R50 per person.

Informal Tasting. Enjoy tasting a selection of 5 wines at a casual at the tasting room counter. R35 per person.

CELLAR TOURS – Mon - Sat: 11:00 (Complimentary Daily Tour).

Alternatively, book a private tour at a more suitable time and enjoy a tasting and tour for R75 per person. Simonsig Wine Estate, Kromme Rhee Road, Stellenbosch District, Koelenhof 7605, South Africa, +27 (0) 21 888 4900, +27 (0) 21 888 4944. WEB: www.simonsig.co.za Locally Simonsig 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. Gozo Distributor: Abraham’s Supplies Co. Ltd. TEL: 2156 3231 WEB: www.abrahams.com.mt

THE ALFA ROMEO 4C ROSSO COMPETIZIONE

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he Alfa Romeo showroom in Valley Road Msida has just welcomed another Alfa Romeo 4C, this time in Rosso Competizione red.

This is the third Alfa Romeo 4C in Malta’s Alfa Romeo showroom. The first model was the Launch Edition model in Carrara White welcomed in Malta last year.

The Alfa Romeo 4C, designed

by Alfa Romeo engineers and produced at the Maserati plant in Modena, represents the true

AT THE ALFA ROMEO SHOWROOM

essence of a sports car at the heart of Alfa Romeo's DNA: performance, Italian style and technical excellence, offering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety.

The 4C draws its inspiration from Alfa Romeo's 8C and 6C of the 1930s and 1940s - both distinguished racing and road cars that were fitted with the powerful 'eight cylinders' and the innovative 'six cylinders'.To this end, the Alfa Romeo 4C uses technologies and materials derived from super sports cars (including the Alfa Romeo 8C

Competizione) - carbon fibre, aluminium, rear-wheel drive, midship engine - and technologies from the latest standard models from Alfa Romeo, but updated to enhance the sports appeal of the new car even further.

One of its innovations lies in the extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fibre to give it a total weight of just 895kg.

THE 4C MODEL NOT ONLY REFLECTS A PERFECT BLEND OF SHEER BEAUTY AND TECHNOLOGICAL REINVENTION BUT IS ALSO A SHOW OF FORCE AND AN EPITOME OF ITALIAN STYLE, ELEGANCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

THE SEAT ATECA

ON DISPLAY IN THE BARCELONA HARBOUR • THE BRAND REVEALS THE FUTURE MODELS TO IMPORTERS AND DEALERS • MORE THAN 2,400 PEOPLE FROM 59 COUNTRIES ATTEND THE PRESENTATION • THE ATECA TAKES THE INTERNET BY STORM WITH 7.2 MILLION VISITS TO THE SEAT WEBSITE

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It also boasts an acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 258km/h.

The 4C model not only reflects a perfect blend of sheer beauty and technological reinvention but is also a show of force and an epitome of Italian style, elegance and technological innovation.

Beyond its very advanced technicalities however, the Alfa Romeo 4C has beauty as one of its greatest attributes. In fact, once

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EAT has presented its strategy and future plans to its global dealer network, a road map inspired by the brand's entry in a new segment with the Ateca. The meeting was held in the heart of Barcelona's bustling harbourand was attended by over 2,400 participants from 59 countries, who learned all about the new models that the brand is going to launch in the months ahead.

SEAT President Luca de Meo announced the brand's latest novelties to the entire commercial network. "The Ateca, together with the Leon and the Ibiza, will become SEAT's third pillar, and make a very positive contribution to promoting the profitability of the company and the dealer network", de Meo explained to the dealers. "With the Ateca, the company is launching a product offensive that will expand and strengthen the modellineup. Thanks to the Ateca and its little brother, the crossover we're going to launch next year, SEAT will be present in the segments showing the highest growth in the market", he added.

The Ateca is already an Internet sensation. Since its presentation last February, 7.2 million people have shown interest in learning about the Ateca on the SEAT web site in Germany, Spain, the UK, France and Italy. In addition, more than 300,000 configurations have been made of the model, which will be available

it was launched, the 4C was immediately voted the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' in Germany and also won the Auto Bild Design Award 2011.

From then onwards, a long list of awards followed such as "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" in Villa d'Este, "Car of the Year 2013" award by FHM Magazine in the UK, "Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in France and many more.

across the dealership network beginning this June.

Carried out within 50 metres of the Mediterranean shoreline in close collaboration with the port authority, the presentation to SEAT's global sales network featured a recreation of an authentic sensory experience related with the city of Barcelona.

Furthermore, the participants had the chance to enjoy a spectacular cooking show with two multiMichelin-starred chefs- Sergi Arola and Paco Perez, both of who delighted their audience with their culinary creations.

In addition to this event intended for importers and dealers, during the entire month of June, 900 international journalists will be flying to Barcelona to gain firsthand knowledge of the new SEAT Ateca and take it for test drives all over the city.

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2015, SEAT's turnover amounted to over 8.3 billion euros, the highest in its history, and the company achieved worldwide sales of more than 400,000 units for the first time since 2007.

SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres - Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon.

Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia.

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utocar, the world’s oldest car magazine, has named Laurens van den Acker its Designer of the Year at an awards ceremony held this month at Silverstone.

The award recognises van den Acker, Renault’s Senior Vice-President of Corporate Design, for kick-starting Renault’s design revolution and transforming its entire model range from when he joined he French vehicle manufacturer in 2009, and praises his leadership style.

Matt Burt, Editor, Autocar, said: “Laurens van den Acker is as much an inspiring and visionary leader as he is brilliant car designer.

“Under his leadership Renault’s design has been transformed, with every car in the range instantly recognisable for good looks, whether we’re talking about the cheeky face of the Clio or the strikingly attractive new Mégane and Scénic models, set to be launched in the UK later this year.

“At Autocar, we admire his clearly expressed design direction, a leadership style that allows others to shine, and the fact that together, this team is producing such universally desirable products.”

Commenting on his award win, Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Design, said: “I’m very honoured and grateful to receive this prestigious award from Autocar Magazine. I would like to dedicate it to my design team who continue to amaze me with their creativity and their passion.

Designing beautiful, innovative cars is what drives us every day at Renault Design and this important recognition will motivate us even more in the future.”

Under van den Acker’s direction, Renault’s ‘Life Flower’ design strategy was conceived in 2010 and has led to a series of concept cars that have inspired the new Renault line-up.

The Life Flower is made up of individual ‘petals’ that are each considered a stage within a person’s life:

when they fall in love, head off on a journey, have a family, work, play, and become wiser. This design strategy is coupled with the definition of a new stylistic language inspired by three keywords that reflect the brand’s vision: simple, sensual and warm.

Renault Design is a highly international team with studios in France, Romania, Brazil, South Korea and India. The teams create designs for all Groupe Renault brands – Renault, Dacia, RenaultSamsung Motors and soon-to-berelaunched Alpine. Laurens van den Acker has overall global responsibility for Renault Design and oversees every design centre and its 500 employees.

Details on the Renault car range are available at www.renault.co.uk

LAURENS VAN DEN ACKER NAMED DESIGNER OF THE YEAR AT AUTOCAR AWARDS 2016 • RENAULT’S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE DESIGN NAMED DESIGNER OF THE YEAR BY AUTOCAR • AWARD HONOURS VAN DEN ACKER’S LEADERSHIP, VISION AND STYLE • DUTCH DESIGNER STARTED RENAULT’S DESIGN REVOLUTION IN 2009 • VAN DEN ACKER’S LATEST DESIGN, THE ALL-NEW RENAULT MÉGANE, WILL ARRIVE IN UK SHOWROOMS NEXT MONTH

May 2016 | motoring 07

THE NEW 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS

SLEEKER LOOKS AND SUPERB HANDLING

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TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JOHN PEEL. he Toyota Prius has always been a love or hate vehicle. In most cases the ones who never drove one fall in the latter category. Car enthusiasts don't like it because it defined the car as an electrical appliance, a way to travel without any driving engagement, yet over 3.5million owners simply appreciated the Prius because it let them get 45 or 50

miles to the gallon without a thought while encouraging a relaxed rate of progress.

The new Prius is going to present the world with a dilemma as this latest hybrid is Toyota's attempt to redefine what it means to be a Prius.

Sporting a totally new streamlined look with angled edges that blend into a slippery wedge shape it is bound to attract new devotees once the new look grows on us. It all boils down to personal taste but i think this is one of the best rear ends I’ve seen in the showrooms this year.

Looks aside the highlight of my

test drive was the way this car handles and corners at higher speeds. The car is wider now, which helps, and has a lower center of gravity. The MacPherson strut suspension up front remains the same as before, but in the back, Toyota has gone to a double wishbone setup. It no longer "drives like a Prius", true driving aficionados will love with the way the new hybrid handles. There's an energy to cornering that simply didn't exist before.

I drove the Prius Actice trim model, which is the new car's entry point but I was immediately impressed but the

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LOOKS ASIDE THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY TEST DRIVE WAS THE WAY THIS CAR HANDLES AND CORNERS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE CAR IS WIDER NOW, WHICH HELPS, AND HAS A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY. THE MACPHERSON STRUT SUSPENSION UP FRONT REMAINS THE SAME AS BEFORE, BUT IN THE BACK, TOYOTA HAS GONE TO A DOUBLE WISHBONE SETUP

s two of the world's most iconic super heroes, Batman and Superman, clashed for the first time ever on the big screen, the JEEP Renegade was one of the protagonists with its Jeep Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition. This limited edition model is now available also in Malta where it can be viewed at the JEEP showroom in Valley Road Msida.

JEEP launched this special edition model with an intensive marketing and communication campaign following the recently announced global partnership between FCA US LLC and Warner Bros. Pictures' action adventure film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".

Based on the Longitude trim level, the JEEP Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition model comes

JEEP RENEGADE

‘DAWN OF JUS EDITION NOW available in four exterior colours namely Carbon Black Metallic, Granite Crystal, Colorado Red and Alpine White. It is enhanced by black interior accents, black 18-inch alloy rims, fog lamp and rear light cluster surrounds and several style accents in the passenger compartment.

Under the hood the new limited edition model offers a choice of two engines: the 1.6-litre MultiJet II 120

light coloured and airy interior with beautifully sculptured front seats, and the cool white dash and door tops. The different trim levels offer quite a disparity of functions and available technology. The Business Edition is the next upgrade trim level, followed by Business Edition Plus and top spec Excel with leather interior and a JBL sound system.

Pretty much everything from the driver's seat falls into the familiar Prius category. If you've driven a Prius before, you'll know how everything works.

Push-button start, the nowtraditional Toyota hybrid drive modes (Eco, Normal, and Power, and an "EV Mode" button) plus the high and center-mounted driver information display. The info screen is now in color and there are cool mini badges that say Prius in the air vents. The entire cockpit area feels spacious and the rear passenger area is decently sized.

The new Prius doesn't force

you to learn how to be a better eco driver every day, but if you're interested in this sort of thing, it's available for you, even though it is pretty hard to keep the car on EV mode as the engine kicks in with the lightest of touches on the accelerator pedal.

Toyota state that one of the missions of this new car is to appeal to buyers who were new

to the Prius family and the way that the new Prius goes about this task is by offering up more than a pure fuel-efficiency story.

It doesn't have an electric vehicle's sprightly acceleration, but it tries to expand the definition of what it means to be a Prius – fuel efficient and yet fun and rewarding to drive with superb handling – this car has a better chance than most.

STICE’ SPECIAL W IN MALTA horsepower diesel engine and the 1.6litre E-TorQ 110 horsepower engine, both combined with manual transmission and front-wheel drive.

Suffice to say, the JEEP Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition model sports the exclusive Batman vs Superman badge. Therefore, driving the JEEP Renegade Dawn of Justice Special Edition model, you too can become a super hero!

May 2016 | motoring 09

BE PART OF

THE GAME WITH KIA AT THE UEFA EURO 2016

‘KIA CHAMP INTO THE ARENA’ PROGRAMME

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VIP trip to Paris, where the Maltese winning team will be participating in the World Final Tournament organized by KIA, competing against other winning teams from countries worldwide.

Each ‘Kia Champ into the Arena’ winning team from every country will be also invited to be present for the Quarter-Final of the EURO 2016 match viewing.

The ‘KIA Champ into the Arena’ programme is supported by Air Malta.

IA Motors has been supporting the EURO for the past 10 years and is one of the ten global UEFA

sponsors and the official automotive partner for the EURO 2016 being held between 10th June & 10th July in Paris, France. In this respect, Cars international, representatives of Kia Motors in Malta, has given Maltese football enthusiasts the

opportunity to get closer to the game by participating in local 5-a-side tournament and stand a chance to win an allinclusive trip to Paris for the hotly anticipated EURO 2016 tournaments including tickets for the quarter finals.

The ‘Kia Champ in the Arena’

programme has invited people to put together a team of 6 to take part on a friendly 5-a-side football tournament. The tournament is running this weekend at the Luxol Grounds in Pembroke. The six members of the winning team will be rewarded with an all-inclusive

NEW IUCN-TOYOTA PARTNERSHIP

The Cars International showroom is in Mdina Road, Qormi. For queries or more information, visit www.kia.com/mt, send an email to kiasales@cil.com.mt or call on 2269 2120.

TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF THREATS TO GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY

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he International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) have announced a five-year partnership to provide funding to broaden the scope of The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. This will significantly increase knowledge about the extinction risk of more than 28,000 species, including many that are key food sources for a sizeable number of the world’s population.

With our planet experiencing extinctions at the fastest rate in its history, IUCN and Toyota believe that there has never been a greater need to understand the current status of the species upon which our survival depends.

This new knowledge will provide a roadmap to guide conservation; concrete action which could

10 motoring | May 2016

positively affect the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Toyota’s support for The IUCN Red List is the first project to preserve species to be implemented under the company’s scheme to reduce the environmental impact of automobiles, the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050.

This year alone, Toyota will provide grants amounting to approximately $1.2 million towards the project.

Inger Andersen, IYCN Director General, said: “The Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 addresses not only climate change, but also biodiversity. They are two sides of the same coin which cannot be dealt with separately.

“This generous grant from Toyota will enable our Red List researchers to take a big leap towards reaching our goal of assessing 160,000 species

by 2020.

Didier Leroy, Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President, said: “When tackling threats to the global environment, it is important to act early and boldly with concrete steps that will make a difference in people’s lives. We did it in 1997 with Prius and more recently with the hydrogen fuel cell Mirai.

But protecting the environment is not just about CO2 and emissions; biodiversity is equally important to human lives. By entering this partnership with IUCN, we are very proud to take an additional step towards the challenge of establishing a future society in harmony with nature.”

For more information on Toyota and its products visit the Toyota showroom situated in Mdina Road Zebbug, or log on the Toyota Malta

FORMIDABLE FORD FOCUS RS AND ITS ENGINEER CROWNED BY AUTOCAR • FIVE-STAR CAR AWARD FOR “BARMY AND TREMENDOUSLY ENGAGING” FOCUS RS • ENGINEER OF THE YEAR ACCOLADE FOR FOCUS RS CHIEF ENGINEER TYRONE JOHNSON

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he Ford Focus RS now being delivered to first owners in the UK was lauded at the recent Autocar Awards.

The third-generation Focus RS with all-wheel drive and 350PS 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, achieving 0-62mph in 4.7sec and capable of 165mph, was recognised with a five-star rating

by Autocar – ahead of Golf R, Civic Type R, Audi RS3 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG A45.

Jim Holder, Autocar editorial director, said: “Any car that carries Ford’s RS badge also carries with it a weight of expectation – but the latest Focus RS carries that load with ease.

“The most fun you can have in a

hot hatch on road or track, the new Focus RS heads our league table for delivering on the edge thrills when you really want to push.”

RS chief engineer Tyrone Johnson was named Engineer of the Year by Autocar.

German-born, educated in the US and a Ford engineer of 31 years,Tyrone previously worked on first SVT Mustang of 1992 and the first global Mondeo alongside spells in motorsport. From 1992 to 2003 Tyrone was part of Ford’s Stewart Ford and Jaguar Racing Formula 1 teams, as well as the Ford Focus’ entry into World Rally.

Heading up a team of 20,Tyrone was assigned to the current RS three years ago with the intent to create a ground-breaking all-

THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN A HOT HATCH ON ROAD OR TRACK, THE NEW FOCUS RS HEADS OUR LEAGUE TABLE FOR DELIVERING ON THE EDGE THRILLS WHEN YOU REALLY WANT TO PUSH

wheel drive platform from the start: “I’m energised by the team I lead, mainly because I've got some real crazy car guys and gals working for me! This Autocar award is for them all.”

Jim Holder said: “Tyrone was asked to reinvent an icon, and he and his team have achieved it in the most spectacular fashion, creating old-school thrills in a totally modern package.”

An online documentary series follows the highs – and lows – of engineering theall-new Focus RS for global sale in 42 countries. All episodes of “Rebirth of an Icon”, covering design studio to unveil and extreme testing in the Arctic and Arizona in between, are at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSD dJ-bq9Y18ODbttaQzumct4Ae4e1O3.

NEW BMW INDIVIDUAL EXTERIOR PAINT PROGRAM FOR THE I8 • WIDE RANGE OF NEW AND EXCITING BMW INDIVIDUAL PAINTWORK COLOURS NOW OFFERED ON THE BMW I8 • NEW ADDITION OF BLACK W-SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME • AVAILABLE IN THE UK ONLY • PRICED FROM £5,495 AND AVAILABLE AT ALL BMW I AGENTS

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MW UK is extending its program of exterior paint finishes for the BMW i8 model with an extensive array of new colours.

As part of the BMW Individual collection, customers will be able to choose from a multitude of extraordinary paint finishes which not only complements the BMW i8s styling but also reflects the personal style of the customer. The new colours include: Java Green, Speed Yellow, Solar Orange, Twilight Purple Pearl, Frozen Grey, Frozen Black, San Marino Blue and Grigio Telesto Pearl to name just a few.

A variety of finishes are available including nonmetallic, metallic or Xirallic, which uses a mixture of synthetic mica or aluminium flakes to produce scintillating effects.

Even more striking is the matt finish of the frozen paintwork which has a unique shimmer, making the contours of the BMW i8 even more striking and underlining the sculptural character of the vehicle. The addition of the new BMW Individual paint programme for the BMW i8 follows the success

of the early orders for the Protonic Red limited edition and is bespoke to the UK. Commenting on the i8 BMW Individual Exterior Paint Programme, Richard Hudson, Sales Director for BMW UK, said: “The BMW i8 embodies the accomplished vision of a modern and sustainable sports car. The new paintwork colours not only complement the BMW i8s emotive styling and design, they also work harmoniously with the BMW i brand and provide customers with exclusive personalised options.”

With over 1,400 BMW i8s sold in the UK since the launch in 2014, the BMW i8 has gone from strength to strength, picking up many accolades along the way including Top Gear Car of the year in 2014, 2015 UK Car of the Year and World Green Car Award to name a few.

With its clever hybrid drivetrain, the i8 boasts an output of 362hp and can also cover up to 23 miles in electric only mode. It also takes BMW’s EfficientDynamics philosophy to a new high, posting emissions of just 49g/km and a combined consumption figure of 134.5mpg in the process.

May 2016 | motoring 11

NEW DS 3 GIVENCHY LE A MEETING OF TWO

IF YOU BREAK DOWN

WHERE TO STOP AND WHAT TO DO M

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WRITES RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR PAUL VELLA. f you’ve broken down it can be hard and often dangerous to stop. Get your vehicle off the road if possible and warn other traffic by using your hazard warning lights, particularly if your vehicle is causing an obstruction. Follow these tips on how to stop safely and call for help.

STEP BY STEP ON A MAIN ROAD If an emergency forces you to stop: • pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible with the front wheels turned to the left • leave your sidelights on and turn on the hazard warning lights • get out of the vehicle by the left-hand door and make sure that all your passengers do the same • leave animals in the vehicle or in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge • if you have reflective jackets in the vehicle wear them – do not use a warning triangle on the hard shoulder • don’t attempt even simple repairs

CALLING FOR HELP Once in a safe place phone your breakdown service provider making sure you can describe your location and 12 motoring May 2016 |

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY WHICH PREVENTS YOU FROM FOLLOWING THE ABOVE THEN STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE, KEEP YOUR SEATBELT ON, SWITCH ON YOUR HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS AND CONTACT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES direction of travel.

IF YOU CAN’T GET ACROSS TO THE HARD SHOULDER

• stopping on a running lane is extremely dangerous • switch on your hazard warning lights • don’t attempt to place any warning device on the carriageway • leave the vehicle only when you can safely get clear of the carriageway If you have a disability which prevents you from following the above then stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt on, switch on your hazard warning lights and contact the emergency services.

IF THERE IS NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP IN A LIVE LANE • use hazard warning lights to

help other drivers see you • if you are in the left hand lane and it is safe to do so, exit the vehicle via the left hand door and wait behind the barrier if possible.

• if you cannot exit the vehicle, do not feel it is safe to do so or there is no other place of relative safety, stay in the vehicle. Keep your seat belt on and dial 112. Inform the police that you are in a dangerous area and need assistance to keep you safe and from causing further accidents.

ON OTHER ROADS Get your vehicle off the road if possible and warn other traffic by using your hazard warning lights, particularly if your vehicle is causing an obstruction.

• If you have any fear that your vehicle may be struck by other traffic make all your passengers get out of the car and get well away from the traffic. Question whether it is safe for you to fix the car or whether you need professional help.

• If it is safe and you have one, put a warning triangle or other permitted warning device on the road behind your vehicle on the same side of the road.

Always take great care when doing this.

• Keep your sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor.

• Do not stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic.

• At night or in poor visibility do not stand where you will prevent other road users seeing your lights.

• Contact your emergency breakdown service provider.

• If you have used a warning triangle remember to retrieve it, with care, when the breakdown is over.

ake the most of May! DS Automobiles and GIVENCHY Le MakeUp have combined their expertise to create an exclusive model based on New DS 3, hatchback and Cabrio. This limited edition has been designed to meet the expectations of active women, for whom the car is a special place where they can customise their makeup before driving. With its exclusive tint and refined equipment, New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp comes along with GIVENCHY makeup products and illuminates the passengers’ face with an innovative lighting system. A total of 1,400 vehicles will go on sale worldwide from June 2016. As a preview, the general public will have an opportunity to discover this new creation between 10 May and 7 June, at DS WORLD PARIS, where it will be displayed alongside the iconic products and inspirational sources of GIVENCHY Le MakeUp. A journey through luxury and elegance à la française…

That over half of DS 3 drivers are women reflects the DS 3’s ability – one it has possessed from the very start – to meet the needs of its customers, and in particular its female customers, modern individuals with active lifestyles.

And so a few weeks after the launch of New DS 3, the DS

brand is proud to present a limited edition designed together with GIVENCHY Le MakeUp. New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp is the result of a natural meeting between two brands driven by a passion for their products and meticulous attention to each and every detail.

NEW DS 3 GIVENCHY LE MAKEUP, EXPRESSING THE EXPERTISE OF TWO LEADING BRANDS From June 2016, 1,400 New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp vehicles – hatchback and Cabrio – will fly the flag of French expertise on roads around the world.

“The New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp expresses the finest expertise of two leading brands in one creation. Givenchy is a recognised name, embodying a distinctive, modern, creative approach to luxury and placing considerable emphasis on materials, textures and colours, just as we do. In short, it’s a brand with similar values, with which we have a great deal in common“, said Thierry Metroz, Design Director of DS. “In my imagination, I dreamed that this car would enhance the beauty of women. They would be beautiful because they would be at the wheel of this New DS 3, a car that is already making

MAKEUP: ICONIC BRANDS

its mark on its times. Beautiful through the reflection and colour of their faces. And beautiful through the dynamic effect of this smiling pink colour“, said Nicolas Degennes, Artistic Director for Makeup and Colour, Givenchy.

AN ICONIC VEHICLE FOR UNIQUE CUSTOMERS All the cars in the DS range are designed for customers looking for a means of personal expression. New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp is no exception to that rule: from the exterior to the cabin, considerable thought went into every detail in order to create a unique vehicle.

The bodywork is in a textured pearl white shade called Opalin White.

Reinventing the matte effect with a new varnish used for the first time by DS, the bodywork of New DS 3 GIVENCHY Le MakeUp has a characteristic granular feel that highlights its curves. The textured paint, applied in the assembly line at the plant in Poissy (France), is not used by any other carmaker in the world. The roof creates a striking contrast with the brand colour Whisper, also visible on the mirror caps and wheel caps.

The Cabrio features Whisper roof arches and a black soft top.

A GIVENCHY Le MakeUp logo in aluminium adds an elegant, eye-catching touch to the door

pillars.

The interior is home to a host of personalised touches. The anodised pink of the dashboard lights up the cabin, while the central armrest houses a special compartment for a GIVENCHY Le MakeUp kit comprising Noir Couture mascara, Prisme Visage compact face powder and Le Rouge lipstick, together with a Whisper nail polish developed specifically for the new model.

The protective mats also feature the limited edition logo.

Emphasising the overall harmony of the design, the anodised pink of the dashboard can also be seen on the interior of the arm rest, with the GIVENCHY Le MakeUp logo.

The top of the armrest is upholstered in Basalte Black nappa leather with a laserengraved 4G logo. As a finishing touch, the two courtesy mirrors are fitted with LED lighting to light up the faces of the occupants in the front seats, a system developed exclusively for this limited edition vehicle.

“An icon, a unique object, a car that is making a mark on its times...” These words are frequently associated with the DS 3 and now with New DS 3.

This praise is based on the personalisation options specific to these models, an approach made possible through the wide choice of bodywork and roof colours (currently 78 possible combinations) and through the regular launch of limited editions.

May 2016 | motoring 13

BENTLEY RETURNS TO ‘GREEN HELL’

• TWO CONTINENTAL GT3S WILL CONTEST THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST GT RACE • BENTLEY MOTORSPORT CONFIRMS 2016 NÜRBURGRING 24 HOURS DRIVERS • BRITISH WORKS TEAM OUTFIT WILL WORK WITH EUROPEAN PARTNER TEAM BENTLEY TEAM ABT SPORTSLINE

B

entley Motorsport will return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend in a bid to conquer ‘the green hell’ with its Continental GT3, as the proving ground for road and race cars alike once again plays host to the world’s toughest endurance race, Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The two-car campaign will be run by Bentley’s Crewe-based works outfit – including senior personnel John Wickham, David

Argent and Christian Loriaux – in conjunction with its new European partner team, Bentley Team ABT Sportsline.

Alongside seasoned Bentley Boys Guy Smith (GB) and Steven Kane (GB), the Nürburgring 24 Hours driver line-ups comprise talent from Bentley Team Abt Sportsline’s GT Masters squad and local talent.

Double-honours will go to Christopher Brück (DE) who will race in both of the entries.

He and Kane will be joined by Marco Holzer (DE) and Christer Jöns (DE) in car #37 and Smith

will race alongside him with Christian Menzel (DE) and Fabian Hamprecht (DE) in car #38.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments: “The Nürburgring Nordschleife is renowned for being the toughest race track in the world and that’s why we test all of our road cars there too, covering thousands of kilometres development phase."

“Add changing weather conditions, darkness, high speeds and approximately 160 cars, and you can see how this track plays host to the most challenging

Northamptonshire. With a time of 1’8.0” around the MIRA handling circuit, the 488 GTB was 0.3 seconds quicker than the 458 Speciale around the same circuit. But the most notable aspects of the Award THE BEST CHASSIS IN THE BUSINESS MEETS are the summary comments from the Autocar Editorial THE BEST TURBOCHARGED ENGINE team: “Ferrari’s greatest achievement with the 488 GTB is not simply how fast it errari’s Chief Test Driver, Raffaele de Simone, goes. Nor is it how it has integrated turbochargers onto collected an award for the Ferrari 488 GTB its mid-mounted V8 yet retained far more character than from Autocar at Silverstone Circuit this month. any other manufacturer has tried artificially aspirating its The award was for the 488 GTB achieving engines. Nor is it that it has given the 488 all the track Autocar’s maximum 5-Star rating in their poise and agility of the 458 Speciale which went before comprehensive Road Test which includes an extensive it.” evaluation of the car on road by the Autocar editorial “No, the feat is how all of the above have been melded team, as well as performance testing at MIRA in

FERRARI 488 GTB

WINS 5-STAR ROAD TEST AWARD FROM AUTOCAR MAGAZINE

F

race in the world – that’s what drives Bentley’s desire for success at Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

The Abt family teams have raced at the Nürburgring multiple times since 1999 and this experience and understanding of the Nordschleife showed when, at its debut race with the Continental GT3, it qualified on the front row for the opening round of the Nürburgring’s tenrace series, VLN. “The VLN races have gone well for us but there is a huge difference between a four-hour

14 motoring | May 2016

and 24-hour race,” concluded Gush. “We know we have a good car, strong line-up and experienced team - but at this race, you also need a healthy quantity of luck. We’ll be fighting from the very first minute.”

DRIVER LINE-UPS FOR NÜRBURGRING 24 HOURS:

#37: Christer Jöns, Steven Kane, Marco Holzer and Christopher Brück. #38: Christopher Brück, Christian Menzel, Guy Smith and Fabian Hamprecht.

into what is undoubtedly today’s greatest supercar.

“World-beating. Likely to be benchmarked and copied – much like the 458 Italia.”

Ferrari also collected the trophy for Britain’s Best Driver’s Car at the Autocar Award ceremony last night, an accolade which the 488 GTB won at Autocar’s traditional “Handling Day” test at Snetterton in October last year.

The 488 GTB is Ferrari’s first mid-engined turbocharged supercar since the Ferrari F40 and retains that car’s extreme driving performance and excitement, while maintaining unprecedented levels of usability and practicality. With the Ferrari Genuine Maintenance package that covers all major servicing costs for 7-years, the 488 GTB is a world-beating supercar that can be driven every day.

For more information, please visit www.media.ferrari.com