IN THIS ISSUE: MALTA PUBLIC TRANSPORT WINS THE BUS EXCELLENCE AWARD | JUMP STARING A FLAT BATTERY | INSURANCE DISCOUNTS FOR DILIGENT DRIVERS | NEW BULTACO ALBERO MOTO-BIKE CONCEPT | HONDA AT THE 2017 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW
The Malta Independent on Sunday. October 2017
NEW CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS COMPACT SUV
also inside
Discover dramatic Trentino Alto Adige
TRENTINO VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: TENUTA SAN LEONARDO
DISCOVER DRAMATIC St. Colombiano Hermitage Rovereto
BORDERING SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA, IN THE NORTH OF ITALY, TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE INCLUDES TWO MAIN AREAS, ONE AROUND TRENTO (TRENTINO) AND ONE AROUND BOLZANO (SOUTH TYROL, IN ITALIAN ALTO ADIGE). THE REGION IS KNOWN FOR MEDIEVAL CASTLES SUCH AS SCHLOSS TIROL, CASTEL RONCOLO AND CASTEL D'APPIANO. IT ENCOMPASSES PART OF THE DOLOMITES, A SECTION OF THE ITALIAN ALPS KNOWN FOR RUGGED LIMESTONE PEAKS. TRENTO, THE REGION'S CAPITAL, HAS RENAISSANCE PALACES WITH FRESCOED FACADES. If you are a mountain-goer, this is the region to visit, both in winter and in summer, because its mountains offer visitors aweinspiring views year-round. Pale di San Martino and stunning valleys such as Fassa, Gardena and Fiemme will enchant you with a great variety of landscapes including snowy peaks, green
Trento Buonconsiglio Castle
seen in the Gothic cathedral. Other important places not to miss include Rovereto, with its museums, castles, the St. Colombiano Hermitage, the great “bell of peace” and the MART Museum, the new modern art hub, and Riva del Garda, with the Pretorio Palace and its austere yet elegant 13th-
Century fortress, the Rocca.
FOOD AND DRINKS This region's cuisine can satisfy anybody's appetite with its rich dishes made with the local product.This is the source for speck from Alto Adige, (South Tyrol) followed by lucanica, a pork
sausage, and Grana from Trentino. Polenta is a well-known dish, usually served with cheese, meat, sausages or mushrooms while canederli or strangolapreti are served as first courses.This region also has a great tradition when it comes to wines including Pinot, Traminer,Teroldego and Spumante wines.
meadows, woods, lakes and freezing streams. The most striking natural feature are the Dolomites, the very essence of the region.The Dolomites are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer an unforgettable experience for ski and winter sports lovers. This region is in fact famous for its picturesque ski resorts including Madonna di Campiglio, San Martino di Castrozza, Moena, Levico, and Canazei. Italy's north also boasts beautiful spa centres, such as Merano and Comano. Beautiful towns and cities can be visited, especially those that overlook Garda Lake (such as Riva del Garda), or Rovereto and Bressanone. Moreover, this region houses incredible artistic treasures, monuments and architectural works that combine Gothic from Austria with Italian Renaissance. The route to discover this region starts in Trento, known as the meeting place of the Ecumenical Council (1545-1563); the city boasts a Lombard Romanesque cathedral and the Buonconsiglio Castle. A second stop is Bolzano, the “Gateway to the Dolomites” and symbol of the fusion of Latin and Germanic cultures, as can be
The Vajolet towers are six summits in the Dolomites in Val di Fassa October 2017 | motoring 03
TRENTINO
VINEYARD FOCUS Tenuta San Leonardo
TENUTA SAN LEONARDO IS AN ESTATE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND AN ITALIAN WINE PRODUCER IN THE LAGARINA VALLEY IN TRENTINO. MORE THAN 1000 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A MONASTERY, BUT FOR OVER 3 CENTURIES NOW SAN LEONARDO HAS SERVED AS THE RESIDENCE OF THE MARQUIS GUERRIERI GONZAGA FAMILY, ITS PROUD CUSTODIANS. TODAY, THE SAN LEONARDO ESTATE IS A GARDEN OF VINEYARDS AND ROSES, PROTECTED BY THE MASSIVE BARRIER OF THE ALPS, WHICH BLUNT THE FORCE OF THE COLD NORTHERN WINDS, WHILE THE VALLEY FLOOR BENEFITS FROM, AND IN TURN RELEASES, WARMTH FROM NEARBY LAKE GARDA. SAN LEONARDO IS A NOBLE ESTATE THAT WAS IN THE HANDS OF THE GRESTI FAMILY UNTIL 1894 WHEN MARCHESE GUERRIERI GONZAGA MARRIED INTO THE FAMILY AND TOOK OVER RUNNING THE ESTATE. HIS SON ANSELMO RENOVATED THE PROPERTY, AND AFTER HIS DEATH THE PRESENT OWNER, CARLO GUERRIERI GONZAGA, INHERITED IT IN 1974.
EVERY STORY HAS ITS TURNING-POINT…
Terre di San Leonardo Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot e Carmenère. The grapes are sourced from the youngest estate vineyards. The wine displays then a more modest concentration and lively drinkability, plus a refined pleasurableness that gives it a definite elegance. Terre di San Leonardo’s roundedness and harmony are finally crowned by a six-month bottle-ageing before release.
Tenuta San Leonardo saw that moment at the end of the 1960s, when Marquis Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga (1895-1974), agriculturalist and passionate vigneron, passed on to his son Carlo the responsibility of giving a new face to the family farming estate. 1982 was “harvest zero”, when San Leonardo first emerged from the vineyard. The first oak barrels made their entry into the wine cellar, and winemaking focused no longer on vineyard-grown field blends but on assemblages following tastings in the cellar of the barrel-aged wine lots. That year too marked the entry of San Leonardo onto the stage of Italy’s select wine producers.
TENUTA’S WINES Only red-wine grapes are cultivated in the vineyards behind Tenuta San Leonardo’s ancient stone walls; they produce four wines, San Leonardo, Villa Gresti, Terre di San Leonardo, and Carmenère. Ten hectares are dedicated to growing white-wine grapes, planted in the Val Cembra, whose soils and climate ensure grapes with distinctive crispness and minerality. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Merlot. The harvest for these grapes usually begins in midSeptember with Merlot, and continues into October, even quite late in the month for the Cabernet and the Carmenère. What sets San Leonardo apart from other wines and gives it an inimitable uniqueness is its terroir, that “warm northern character” of its growing area, which allows no over-opulence or excessive alcohol, but rather infuses the wine with a judicious natural balance. A clean-edged crispness and elegance,
04 motoring | October 2017
heightened by a few years in the bottle, are its characteristic qualities, obvious right from its bouquet, fragrances that, far from being explosive, build gradually in an intriguing crescendo. Following lengthy fermentations which allow the extraction of the noble tannins, the wine is matured according to practices honed over many years: 10 months in cement vats, 18-24 months in new, onceand -twice-used French barriques, followed by the assemblage of the final wine, and finally a minimum of 20 months of bottle-ageing. Villa Gresti, largely Merlot, with some Carmenère. It is a finely-balanced, immediately appealing wine, with a velvety, supple mouthfeel and an emphatic, compelling finish. The harvest for Villa Gresti usually begins in mid-September. After the fermentations, the wine matures in barriques for 12 to 14 months, depending on the characteristics of the growing season, then spends a minimum of 12 months in the bottle before release from the cellars.
Carmenère. The grapes ferment in 50- 80-hl concrete vats, in which it spends its initial months of maturation as well before passing into new, once- and twice-used French oak barriques. A further three years in the bottle are necessary to ensure that Carmenère exhibits its full character and intriguing complexity. Vette di San Leonardo, Monovarietal Sauvignon Blanc. A wine with a distinctive freshness tinged with floral notes, with a stylishly woven structure and complex minerality. Its name is a tribute to its truly Trentino identity, while the Marchesi Guerrieri Gonzaga guarantee quality by selecting grapes personally from the Val di Cembra growers. Visit Tenuta San Leonardo. Several different tours are available including a ‘Walk in the Estate’visiting the vineyards, gardens and cellars; and a more comprehensive ‘ Hidden World of San Leonardo Tour’. To reserve a tour, please send an e-mail to info@sanleonardo.it or contact +39 0464 689004. Locally Tenuta San Leonardo 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
THE NEW BULTACO ALBERO
THE MOTO-BIKE CONCEPT HITS THE CITY • ITS INTERNATIONAL ROLLOUT WILL TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER AT THE EICMA IN MILAN • BULTACO MOTORS PROPOSES A WHOLE NEW CONCEPT IN URBAN MOBILITY: A UNIQUE, FUN AND SAFE EXPERIENCE, AND WITH ZERO EMISSIONS
t
he Albero is all about fun and getting you places in the big city, and with zero emissions along the way. The new Bultaco Albero represents a novel concept in urban mobility, offering a unique, safe and fun experience, featuring electric drive and green riding, taking you anywhere in the city. Since its return to the market Bultaco Motors has been strongly committed to presenting innovative products, in both their concepts and technology, but always guided by its founding principles, based on passion and fun. Its first product was the Brinco, which innovated the Moto-Bike concept: a cross between a motorcycle and a bicycle, with a combination of electric propulsion activated by a grip throttle, and independent pedalling, allowing the rider to adjust, at will, the level of effort he wishes to make. The new Bultaco Albero shares Brinco's technical platform, but features a look and technical solutions adapted to the urban environment. The result is a model with a unique, very attractive design, characterised by a retro image, a bit reminiscent of a café racer. A new concept in urban mobility, with
HONDA AT THE
TOKYO MOTOR SHOW 2017
onda has strengths in producing a broad range of products including motorcycles, automobiles, power products and even business jets. And Honda has relationships with 28 million customers around the world, which we established through our products. Such strengths as a manufacturer and relationships with our customers are proof that Honda has been embodying its passion to “serve people worldwide with the joy of expanding their life’s potential,” which has been widely shared beyond the boundaries of countries and times. Honda will further strengthen the lineup of our motorcycle and automobile global models, which represent one of Honda’s strengths, and continue to offer a broad range of attractive products to
H the manoeuvrability and lightness of a bicycle; the sturdiness and safety of a motorcycle, zero emissions and the outstanding performance (60 Nm maximum torque, 45 km/h maximum speed) of electric propulsion. A new concept in the city for a new type of rider: Moto-Bikers. Cosmopolitan urbanites who are looking for a different kind of transport. One that's on the cutting edge, and sustainable. The international rollout of the new Bultaco Albero will be at the EICMA, a major event in the motorcycle world, to be held in Milan, Italy during the second week of November. Along with the new Albero, in its different versions, the entire Brinco line will also be on display, with the new Brinco R-B as a "special guest".
customers all around the world. Moreover, Honda has been working on the development of various technologies and products which will contribute toward the realisation of a carbon-free society and making good progress in making our gasoline-powered vehicles cleaner and more fuel efficient. In the area of automobiles, we have been expanding the lineup of hybrid vehicles and will continue to strengthen hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV models from here forward. With our products equipped with electrification technologies, Honda will continue striving for the realization of our enduring passion to realize the joy of helping people and the joy of driving. Honda will continue taking on challenges to expand the life’s potential of our customers.
October 2017 | motoring 05
u
IRU SMART MOVE AWARDS 2017 REWARD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INNOVATION IN PASSENGER TRANSPORT
IRU IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF THE 2017 IRU SMART MOVE AWARDS. MALTA PUBLIC TRANSPORT WINS THE BUS EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR ITS OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BUS SERVICE AND THE ROMANIAN MUNICIPALITY OF ALBA IULIA IS AWARDED THE CITY TROPHY FOR THE GREAT ATTENTION PAID TO TOURIST COACHES VISITING THE CITY.
mberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General said, “It is always satisfying for IRU to discover so many innovative projects in the bus and coach sector that truly embody what excellence in mobility is all about. My sincere congratulations to all applicants and to our winners in particular for their impressive commitment and efforts into making bus and coach transport a high quality service for passengers and city visitors setting the example for our entire industry.” IRU Smart Move Bus Excellence Award winner, Malta
Public Transport, a private company which operates scheduled bus services on the Maltese islands, did a great job in transforming public transport by bus into a reliable and comfortable service for passengers. Significant investments resulted in a growth of more than 15% in the number of passengers compared to 2014, better informed travellers thanks to the award winning Tallinja app and increased customer satisfaction. Felipe Cosmen, Chairman of Malta Public Transport, said, “We are honoured to receive this award. We have come across various challenges over the past
two and a half years, however our determination to provide people in Malta with a safe and reliable public transport service motivated our work as a team to achieve these positive results.” IRU Smart Move City Trophy Award winner, Alba Iulia, impressed the jury with its collaborative and integrated approach to mobility, with group tourism by coach having an important role in their mobility planning.The measures implemented for welcoming tourist coaches in the city such as dedicated parking spaces located near the city’s main attractions, and facilities created for coach
tourists brings Alba Iulia this welldeserved trophy. Mircea Hava, Mayor of Alba Iulia, said, “Alba Iulia is committed to becoming a highly rated tourist destination. Facilitating the access of tourist coaches to our city and creating a welcoming environment for visitors coming by coach is an important component of this ambition.The official recognition by IRU of all these efforts are the confirmation that we are moving not just in the right but in the best direction.” IRU will also be present at Busworld Kortrijk. Come and meet us at stand R30 on Rambla North to find out more about
these winners and IRU’s work for the bus and coach industry in Europe.
ABOUT THE SMART MOVE AWARDS Smart Move Awards reward best business and public policies as well as industry practices that increase the attractiveness, safety, security, efficiency, environmental and social performance of bus and coach transport.The objective is to promote such achievements and performance worldwide, so that they serve as examples to be emulated by the entire industry, while improving its image.
JUMP STARING A FLAT BATTERY – How to use jump leads WRITES PAUL VELLA, RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR. Jump leads are a handy way of bypassing, and recharging a flat battery, but they can cause real damage to both cars and people if they’re not used properly. If you’re determined to do it yourself, make sure you read the instructions in your handbook and follow those if they’re different to our guidelines below.
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE Find someone with a car 1 who’s happy to help.Their car must have a fully charged battery with the same voltage as yours (usually 12 volts) Park both cars so their batteries are within easy reach of one another (without the cars actually touching). Keep the handbrakes on and the ignitions off Use the red jump lead to connect the working battery’s positive (+) terminal to the flat battery’s positive (+) terminal
2 3
06 motoring | October 2017
Take the black jump lead and 4 attach it to the negative (-) terminal on the working battery. Then attach the other end to an earthing point (unpainted metal on the engine block or chassis) well away from the flat battery and fuel system Keep both engines off and wait for three minutes, then start the working car’s engine and let it run for a minute Start your car
5
6Leave both cars to idle, at a 7fast pace, for around 10 minutes Turn off both cars’ engines and 8 carefully disconnect the leads in the reverse order to the way they were connected (i.e. remove the black lead from your car first and finish with the red lead from the other car). Make sure the leads don’t touch one another, or either car, as you remove them Restart your car
9 If your car won’t start 10there’s probably a more serious problem requiring professional help
A POLICY THAT REWARDS DILIGENT DRIVERS WITH DISCOUNTS otor insurance premiums for young drivers are typically at least twice as expensive as those for policies covering drivers aged 25 years and over. In a report published last year by the Association of British Insurers, it was shown how young drivers are much more likely to cause “catastrophic” claims, which were defined as “major crashes that will have serious consequences for the driver, passengers and other road users” and which involve fatalities or very serious injuries being sustained. More than 25% of such accidents were in fact caused by young drivers. There are usually combinations of factors which lead to a crash and it is often difficult to determine the exact cause, however it is clear that young drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash as a result of excessive speed and loss of control of the vehicle. The indications are that although young drivers may have been taught to drive safely, they frequently over-estimate their abilities and underestimate dangers which, coupled with a desire to show off, leads to some young drivers driving in dangerous and high-risk ways. So, the question is what can be done to reduce the risk of an accident where the driver is young and inexperienced? Many recommendations have been made including a minimum learning period, a ban on carrying young passengers and a lowering of the blood alcohol concentration. Ultimately however, what matters is the ability to change a young driver’s attitude and behaviour while driving. Technology has provided a tool which can be quite effective in achieving
M
this. Telematics technology allows the constant tracking of a vehicle that has been fitted with a small unobtrusive device. The data collected from this can be processed and analysed in such a way as to provide a very clear picture as to how the driver is driving. For instance, every time the driver over-speeds an alert can be sent to indicate this, via SMS or through a smartphone app. Motor insurers have therefore been using this technology in specially tailored insurance
products for young drivers, designed to make motor insurance more affordable while encouraging young drivers to drive more carefully. GasanMamo’s Boosh policy does precisely this. Young drivers can benefit from up to 65% discount on their motor insurance premium if they commit to driving within the speed limits and have a telematics device fitted in their vehicle to monitor this. While their privacy is fully protected, as the insurer only is informed
of speed infringements at the same time as they are, the driver can get real time information about how he or she is driving through a ‘driving score’ that is constantly updated. There is also the added bonus that should the vehicle be stolen; its location can easily be tracked very easily and accurately. Further information on the Boosh policy can be obtained by visiting www.gasanmamo.com or one of GasanMamo’s offices across Malta and Gozo.
October 2017 | motoring 07
NEW COMPACT SUV CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS CITROËN REINFORCES ITS INTERNATIONAL SUV OFFENSIVE
c
itroën has revealed the New Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV, poised to conquer a segment having grown fivefold in Europe and worldwide between 2012 and 2016. The Brand's SUVs are people-minded and inspired by customers. Their design is informed by the motoring experience of customers and their desire for optimism and sharing. To the protective character of the exterior styling, these new
generation SUVs add the appeal of a different and energetic personality, standing as a new benchmark on comfort, use and on-board living. They illustrate all the Brand's expertise in design, cabin space and well-being. Inspired by the C-Aircross concept car presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2017 and featuring classic Citroën design cues, the New C3 Aircross brings a breath of fresh air to the compact SUV segment.
Outside, it stands out with its unique body styling and unprecedented personalisation choices, giving it an assertive personality. Inside, it innovates through its comfort as part of the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme for enhanced spaciousness, modular design and brightness. Firmly contemporary, the New C3 Aircross is eminently connected and equipped with a range of technologies that make life easier in the city and on the road. In short, Citroën's new SUV invites fans of style, well-being and adventure to live a whole new experience.
THE NEW CITROËN C3 AIRCROSS COMPACT SUV STANDS APART IN THE SUV SEGMENT: • AN SUV WITH AN ASSERTIVE AND CUSTOMISABLE PERSONALITY The New Citroën C3 Aircross is a compact 4.15-m long SUV distinguished by its powerful, original and fresh attitude. It boasts unique body styling fully representative of new Citroën models and all the attributes of a robust and protective SUV, including raised ground clearance, a high-set driving position, front and rear skid plates, large wheels and wing extenders. The body styling with its generous forms is underscored by strong graphic features such as touches of colour on the roof bars and "Venetian blind" rear quarterlights. The C3 Aircross offers a unique and unprecedented personalisation offer comprising 85 exterior combinations, including three roof colours for two-tone models and four Colour Packs, along with five highly distinctive interior design schemes. The cabin, with its horizontal design approach, clearly conveys spaciousness and protection. The C3 Aircross is also very much an SUV in terms of driving pleasure and handling. Nimble in the city owing to its compact body and ready for adventure with its Grip Control® and Hill Assist Descent systems, the C3 Aircross is available with a broad selection of frugal and efficient PureTech petrol and BlueHDi diesel engines bringing occupants 08 motoring | October 2017
driving pleasure, economy and environmental respect. (The PureTech engine won the "International Engine of the Year" award in 2015, 2016 and 2017.)
• THE MOST SPACIOUS AND MODULAR SUV IN THE COMPACT SEGMENT The Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, focused on mental and physical wellbeing, informs the practical and generous personality of the newgeneration compact SUV. Through its ingenious architecture, the New C3 Aircross is a compact SUV that makes everyday life easier with absolutely no compromises on comfort or functionality. The cabin is home to broad and comfortable seats and offers class-leading spaciousness (best ceiling height, generous leg room), unrivalled modularity (sliding bench in two independent parts, flat-folding front passenger seat for a load length of 2.40 m) and exceptional boot volume (410 litres and up to 520 litres). Travelling well-being is also conferred by a light-bathed cabin thanks to the large opening panoramic glass sunroof. Fully in step with its times, the C3 Aircross features ingenious storage spaces, including a wireless smartphone charging area on the central console. It is available with a complete range of driver assistance systems, such as head-up display, the Active Safety Brake function, automatic high-beam lights, speed sign recognition with recommendations, as well as useful technologies including Park Assist and Citroën Connect Nav. Agile in the city but also equipped with resolutely all-road attributes for daily adventures, the New Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV meets the requirements of modern lifestyles. The people-minded SUV is customisable, focused on motorists and their new motoring behaviour, and provides them with unprecedented character, comfort and spaciousness. The New Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV is now on display at Michael Attard Ltd, Citroën showroom, Mdina Road, Attard. www.citroen.com.mt Facebook.com/CitroenMalta