Free roadMagazine magazine Freetrack Track and Road
Mitsubishi L200 INDUSTRY NEWS - REVIEWS - GADGETS
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AP
. . . E ISSU
6
THIS MONTHS NEWS
12
FEATURE : SUBARU
14
FEATURE : MITSUBISHI L200
24
THIS MONTHS MUST HAVES
28
PICTURE OF THE MONTH
30
FEATURE : BENTLEY
34
FEATURE : FORD KA
40
FEATURE : MERCEDES C63 AMG
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© 2010 TarMag Extra care is taken when compiling the contents of this online publication but the staff, contributors cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or errors. TarMag isn’t responsible for any issues arising from any dealings with any advertisers within the publication.
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Well we a r e a l r ea d y i n to A p r i l for 2011 a n d i t s g oi n g s o fa s t . This mon t h we c h ec k out M i t s ub i s hi’s L200 B a r b a r i a n m od el w h i c h we f ir st c h ec ked out t h e L 2 0 0 b ack in 20 07 a n d t h i n g s h ave c h a n ged but fo r t h e b et ter ? Wel l i t s Mit subi s h i of c o ur s e i t h a s ! N ew im provem en t s a n d n ew m od el s m ake the c a r b et ter t h a n i t s ever b een!
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We look at the lovely Ford KA , great car, handles well. We go from one extreme to another with a feature on Mercedes new C63 AMG and Bent ley have something nice to show you all! We f ind out why MSN Car’s thinks a Subaru is a top per form er when extreme weather s hit us! Now we are getting ni cer weather ( touch wood ) we will be attend -
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THE TEAM @ WWW.TARMAG.CO.UK Managing Editor Mark Morris Mark@tarmag.co.uk Advertising David Daniels David@tarmag.co.uk ing even m o re even t s a c ros s t h e count r y s o b e s ur e to keep a n eye out fo r us . I f you w i s h us to attend your even t t h en g et i n touch . We h ave g ot s o m e exc i t ing eve n t s a n d c a r ’ s we a re r e viewin g i n t h e n ex t few week s to ex p ec t s om e b i g g er b ump er issues o f Ta r M a g ver y s oon ! E
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RECORD ENTRY FOR 2011 BTCC The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship today confirmed a record entry list ahead of its 2011 season with the highest number of different makes and car models entered for the series in the two decades it has run as an all twolitre formula. Ten makes of car representing Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Proton, SEAT, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen will all feature on this year’s flourishing grid. Out of those, 13 different models will be gearing up for action including: Audi A4, BMW 320si, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Lacetti, Ford Focus, ‘Global’ Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Honda Integra, Proton Gen-2, SEAT Leon, Toyota Avensis, Vauxhall Vectra and VW Golf. This beats the previous record (nine makes and 11 models in 1993) seen in the BTCC’s two-litre era that began in 1991. In total, 27 entries have been received for the 2011 season, the first event of which is staged at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent in ten days’ time on Sunday 3 April. From there the title race will head off on a high-speed, action packed, six-month tour of the UK, with ten race events in total at
nine different motor sport venues culminating with Finals Day, this year being staged at British Formula 1 Grand Prix venue of Silverstone, Northants – host of today’s Media Day season launch – on Sunday 16 October. Notably, the Audi, Proton and Toyota entries are all for cars built to the BTCC’s dynamic new Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations which provide dramatically reduced costs and have led directly to four new teams alone joining the BTCC for 2011. Official ‘factory’ teams from Chevrolet and Honda also star on the entry list, while Toyota GB are funding an engine development programme for customer teams running its Avensis to the new NGTC regulations. Further underlining the BTCC’s importance to manufacturers as an ideal sporting arena in which to showcase products, the Ford Motor Company has chosen the championship to debut the competition version of its new 2011 Focus model, in the hands of the independent Team Aon squad. BTCC’s official website www.btcc. net
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CHAUFFEUR COMPANY - SCOTTISH FIRST WITH TOYOTA PRIUS
eCorporate Travel has a clear objective – to become Scotland’s first carbonneutral chauffeur company. With the arrival of the first of Toyota Prius full hybrid hatchbacks, and a flood of support from bluechip corporate clients, it believes it is well on the way to achieving its goal.
The company, based in Loanhead on Edinburgh’s southern outskirts, is a self-contained offshoot of Edinburgh Executive Travel, which has been offsetting its saloon and people-carrier emissions for the past two years. Although 8 TARMAG.CO.UK
eCorporate Travel has been building the foundations since the beginning of 2010, it began operations at the start of February with its striking white Toyota Prius T4 five-door hatchbacks, with new livery and logos. The service is already being used by bluechip corporate clients in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and while the company has committed to taking on 14 Prius cars this year, it is ready to order more if other prospective clients come on board.
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Maserati’s fastest, lightest and most powerful car in its range, the GranTurismo MC Stradale, will have its UK debut at this year’s Salon Privé event at Syon Park. Sitting alongside some of the world’s most desirable and powerful cars at Salon Privé 2011 the GranTurismo MC Stradale is a road going version inspired by Maserati’s Trofeo GranTurismo MC racecar and their race-winning GT4 car. The GranTurismo MC Stradale mixes an excellent blend of knife edge styling and awesome performance which is sure to gather crowds on the Supercar Lawn in June. Salon Privé has now established itself as a major date in the automotive diary. Now in its sixth consecutive year, moving to a new venue, featuring a larger Concours d’Elegance and a ‘Quintessentially English’ RM Auction; the event is a desirable platform for brands to unveil new products. 2009 saw the UK debut of the new Jaguar XJ and Aston Martin chose Salon Privé to present the first public viewing of their £1 million One-77. In addition, Salon Privé was chosen to host Jaguar’s 75 year anniversary celebration.
UK DEBUT OF THE MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC STRADALE
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FORD DRIVERS WELL EQUIPPED FOR POTHOLED ROADS Despite government confirmation of extra funding to fix Britain’s roads, Ford will continue to ensure the toughness and durability of the suspension systems on all its cars and vans – without sacrificing the rewarding driving experience that defines Ford vehicles. The recent announcement by Chancellor, George Osborne, means an extra £100 million will be placed in to the UK’s ‘pothole fund’ – raising the Department for Transport’s pothole fixing expenditure to £200 million. Testing and development processes for chassis and suspension systems carried out by Ford engineers at Dunton Technical Centre - one of Europe’s largest automotive R&D centres - and Lommel Proving Ground, Bel10 TARMAG.CO.UK
gium mean that Ford vehicles are designed to cope with the most demanding road surfaces. Tests include running real-world road simulations, high-tech data acquisition and thousands of miles of surface testing. Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium has been subjecting new Ford vehicles to a variety of highly demanding road surfaces for four decades, and features some 50 miles of test track including many miles designed to put suspension systems to the most severe test. The Lommel Proving Ground features exact copies of real life road surfaces from around the world including Lower Dunton Road – an inch-by-inch recreation of a typically challenging UK road surface that was located near the Ford Dunton Technical Centre, Essex.
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SUBARU IMPREZA SHINES IN MSN CARS HATCHBACK HANDLING CHA Subaru’s All-Wheel Drive Impreza is the hatchback to be in when bad weather strikes, according to handling tests carried out recently by MSN Cars. The popular automotive website took four rival hatchbacks to the Wet Grip facility at Rockingham Raceway, Nor thamptonshire, to establish which was the safest to own and drive on slip12 TARMAG.CO.UK
per y and hazardous roads. The Impreza’s rivals in this slipper y skid-pan shootout were the BMW 1 Series, Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf. All four were priced under £18,000, but they offered the full range of driv etrain layouts: the BMW was rear-wheel drive, the Honda and Golf were driven by the front wheels, and the Impre-
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ALLENGE za, as with all production Subaru’s, boasted All-Wheel Drive. Three separate tests were under taken at the saturated, and ver y slipper y, Wet Grip facility: simulated skid recover y from 30mph, wet slalom and standing star t on a polished sur face. In each of the disciplines the Impreza per formed admirably, comfor tably recovering the simulated skid
and dispatching the slalom course with ease. The standing star t test, in par ticular, highlighted the obvious benefits of All-Wheel Drive, with the Impreza completing the course three seconds faster than the front-drive pairing of the Golf and Civic and a full six seconds ahead of the rear-drive BMW, despite being one of the least power ful vehicles on test.
0 3 4 E:G
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Meet Britain’s best selling pick-up truck for 2009! Redesigns inside and out with a new front grille, projector type headlamps, revised interior and generally all r o u n d b e t t e r c a r. We f i r s t reviewed the Mitsubishi L 2 0 0 b a c k i n 2 0 07 a n d i t w a s a g r e a t c a r. T h e m o d e l we previously tested was he Animal model which was always Mitsubishi’s top of the range model, but the Animal variant is now no more and has been replaced with the Warrior and Barbarian models! Each available in single cab or double cab configuration. Mitsubishi have even managed to improve emissions by a staggering 6%. New 5-speed automatic gear box with spor t mode is also new to the range of L200’s which was what we happened to have on our top of the range Barbarian. 17 5 b h p f r o m t h e 2 . 2 D I = D Common rail turn diesel engine! These new 2010 models have a completely revised front grille’s, new projection type headlamps in ei-
ther back or silver with a larger body coloured bumper making the L200 more than just your average pickup! The new styling of fers SUV drivers who are interested in the versatility of a pick-up but aren’t willing to compromise on style or comfor t. The Barbarian model which we had in a lovely white colour comes with a very high spec list including a unique body kit including chrome highlighted from resin guard with spor ts grille. Bold Barbarian graphics, illuminated door entr y guards, leather seats, integrated kenwood in-car enter tainment incorporating a reversing camera and even ipod connectivity along with your Bluetooth for the mobile phone and Garmin sat nav all as standard! The Interior also has had a makeover with a new centre console and centre armrest with a new handbrake and A/T shif t levers. The new multi steering wheel now contains audio and cruise control switches which are 16 TARMAG.CO.UK
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nice and easy to operate. The driver’s seat adjusts for height making drivers of all shapes and sizes to find a comfor table position! Another feature we love is the L200’s electrically retracting rear window which is now standard on the high series models. It provides ventilation and allows the load deck to be accessed from the passenger compar tment, as to why a passenger would need something from the load deck whilst driving is beyond us! The L200 uses Mitsubishi’s four-cylinder common rail turbodiesel Di-D engine. Boasting the latest te c h n o l o g y, M i t s u b i s h i ’ s e n gineers have enhanced the 2.5-litre Di-D unit to improve both fuel economy and emissions. This new Barbarian model is great, definitely wor th having for all weathers, its good o n t h e f u e l e c o n o my, i s g r e a t value, and even looks great. Go to your nearest Mitsubishi dealership and find out for yourself!
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. . . . . . VES
Meanwhile, performance lovers will get the chance to get close to some of the most desired road and track day cars in Piston record breaking Ultima GTR720.
A H T MUS
Nintendo 3DS Handheld Console
The Nintendo 3DS is the latest handheld gaming innovation from Nintendo. It features the dual screen setup of the Nintendo DS, but allows for full, stereoscopic 3D gaming without the need for any special glasses.
per eye, WQVGA) that is able to produce a stereoscopic three-dimensional effect without 3D glasses, while the bottom screen is a 3.02-inch 4:3 non3D touch panel with a resolution of 320x240 pixels (QVGA).
The Nintendo 3DS is based on a custom Pica200 graphics processor from a Japanese start-up Digital Media Professionals (DMP). It has two screens; the top screen is a 3.53-inch 5:3 3D screen with a resolution of 800x240 pixels (400x240 pixels
You need to check these machines out as they are great fun and very entertaining!
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Compatible with both Nintendo DS and DSi games, and a new generation of 3DS games.
EXPANSYS.COM for more details
nHeads: The Performance Car Show. Last year show goers were treated to the Aspira F620, the Noble M600 and the world
Apple iPhone 4 WHITE
Ta ke c u t t i n g e d g e technology, marr y it with beautiful design and wrap it up with genuinely innovative and easy to use software. This is the new Apple iPhone. Pack full of wonderful technologies that make life easier. From the stunning Retina display that is 4 times sharper than older model, not only for sharper clearer images, but also lets you see more on screen. FaceTime lets you video chat to other iPhone users, with a great 5 mega-pixel
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camera capable of shoot HD video. This is the best device ever,ever y time you hold it you appreciate the quality.The screen is amazing!It really brings all your old photos to life again! About time Apple bring this device out in white. But then we have rumours and spec’s kicking about for the new iPhone 5!
ÂŁTBC - WWW.APPLE.CO.UK
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Free track and road magazine
: E R EATU
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Y L T BEN
Knockhill Racing Circuits New and Improved Rally! Bentley Motors will unleash its world-record breaking Continental Superspor ts Conver tible Ice Speed Record car at this year’s Cholmondeley Page a n t o f P o w e r, t h e c e l e b r a tion of power and speed held at the Cholmondeley Estate, Cheshire. With the four-time world champion rally driver and honorar y ‘Bentley Boy’ Juha Kankkunen at the wheel, the Superspor ts Conver tible last month set a Guinness Book of Records world best of 205.48 mph 28 TARMAG.CO.UK
on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea. A founding sponsor since 2008, Bentley recently agreed to sponsor the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power until 2013. At this year’s Pageant, which takes place over three days for the first time (1517 J u l y ) , t h e i c o n i c B r i t i s h luxury car manufacturer will showcase award-winning cars like the new Continental GT and its new flagship, the Mulsanne. There will also be the oppor tunity to see the 2003
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Le Mans winning Speed 8 as it powers around the circuit. James Hall, Event Director for the Cholmondeley P a g e a n t o f P o w e r, a d d e d , “We’re extremely proud to see Bentley extend their support and are looking for ward to showcasing one of the world’s most power ful and exciting cars of recent years – the recordbreaking Bentley Superspor ts Conver tible.” The Cholmondeley Pag-
eant of Power will be bigger and even more action packed than ever in 2011. On display and completing high-speed laps throughout the weekend will be dozens of celebrated vehicles, from the Jordan F1 car which Giancarlo Fisichella piloted to victor y at the Brazil Grand Prix in 2002 to motoring legends, such as the Lancia Delta Integrale WRC Mar tini rall y c a r. fur ther event information can be found at www. cpop.co.uk.
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A K A D K R : O F E : R E U T R A U E T F FEA
Back in 1996 Ford introduced to us the KA, originally designed and s t y l e d a s a c i t y c a r. B a s e d on the same format as the Fiat 500 The new Ford Ka is a great little c i t y c a r. I t m ay b e s m a l l but its practical and ideal for ever yday use from the weekly shop to back and for th to work! The Ford Ka comes with a 67bhp 1.2 petrol eng i n e a n d a 74 b h p 1 . 3 diesel engine but don’t expect to become a boy racer with those kinda figures. They have 32 TARMAG.CO.UK
been created with city driving in mind. But the petrol’s engine appetite for rev’s can make it fun to drive at times. Borrowing the chassis from the Fiat 500 it’s a great drive on the road, its nimble through the corners and accur a t e t o s t e e r, a l m o s t like a go kar t to drive. The ride comfor t is extremely good for such a s m a l l c a r, i t s f i r m and you wouldn’t think you are driving a KA. Wind noise is a bit of an issue when you hit
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the higher speed limits with noise around the mirrors and doors. The build quality is attractive and very workable especially the colour coded interior which is built with a budget in mind but reliable. The Ka also only has two airbags as standard with modern day technology and curtain, seat, etc airbags we think the KA should come with more p r o t e c t i o n . Yo u c a n p a y for more airbags and stability control but that makes this Ford Ka rocket up in price.
The high seating positions aren’t exactly s p o r t y, b u t g i ve yo u a good view of the road. The design of the dash means it’s very easy and practical. If you are tall then you wouldn’t enjoy being on a long trip in the rear as there isn’t much room but as far as small car’s go its not bad! Boot space is nice, enough for a small weekly shop, you wouldn’t own this car with a big family to go for a huge weekly shop, if you did then
the rear seats fold down! The Ka’s biggest downfall is its price – especially considering the limited spec and lack of options. The discounts will help, but that and high sales volumes mean that the Ka’s residual values aren’t as good as the Fiat 500’s. Both engines are frugal and cheap to tax, but the less expensive petrol makes m u c h m o r e s e n s e to b u y. . All models emit less than 120g/km, meaning an annual road tax bill of £35. I recently drove the spor ty Ford Fiesta Zetec S which i will be writing about soon but the Ford Ka is just a squashed version of this g r e a t c a r, s m a l l e r e n g i n e but it really depends on w h a t y o u w a n t t h e c a r fo r. This car suited towards city driving and not for a daily commute on the motor way to work! Go up a level o the Fiesta and you are seeing more practical engines and more sporty f u n ! To f i n d o u t m o r e g o to your local Ford Centre! w w w . f o r d . c o . u k
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: E R EATU
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G M A C63
THE NEW C 63 AMG COUPÉ – EMOTION AND HIGH PERFORMANCE AT Affalterbach - In the shape of the new C 63 AMG coupé, Mercedes-AMG is presenting an autonomous, highper formance car that appeals to all the senses. Distinctive design is combined with a power ful drive package and dynamic handling. The new coupé joins the successful C-Class AMG fa m i l y, w h i c h i n c l u d e s t h e classic saloon as well as the practical estate model. The C 63 AMG coupé also enhances the AMG family of coupés: in addition to the CLS 63 AMG and the CL 63 38 TARMAG.CO.UK
AMG, Mercedes-AMG GmbH is now able to of fer another dream car featuring a highper formance eight-cylinder engine. The market launch c o m m e n c e s i n S u m m e r 2 011. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine in the C 63 AMG coupé delivers a maximum output of 4 57 h p a n d p e a k to rqu e o f 600 Newton metres for outstanding per formance: the coupé is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 155 mph (electronically limited). With this kind of
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ITS MOST ATTRACTIVE specification, the new twodoor vehicle is set to take the lead in its segment. The new coupé variant benefits from all the technology updates that have been adopted on the C 63 AMG saloon and estate models. Deploying the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with “Controlled Efficiency” mode as standard and a new power steering pump reduces fuel consumption: the combined NEDC figure for the C 63 AMG coupé is 23.5 mpg.
This fuel consumption figure also applies to the performance version generati n g 4 87 h p c o u r te s y of t h e AMG per formance package. Available as an option, this package improves acceleration from 0 to 62 mph to 4.4 seconds, with technology transferred from the SLS AMG responsible for the 30 hp increase in output. The forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshaft adopted from the gull-wing model’s high-tech drive system save three kilograms in
weight. This reduces inertia and enhances the agility and responsiveness of the high-revving, eight-cylinder naturally aspirated e n g i n e . V i s u a l l y, t h e A M G per formance package can be identified by the variable intake manifold in titanium grey under the bonnet, the AMG high-performance braking system with composite front discs and red painted brake callipers all round, the carbon fibre spoiler lip on the boot lid and the AMG performance steering wheel in nappa leather with an Alcantara® grip area It is not just the engine and power transmission which influence the C 63 AMG coupé’s dynamic quality – the AMG sports suspension and AMG high-per formance braking system are also key here. Depar ting from the standard suspension, the top-of-the-range AMG model has a separate threelink front suspension, a reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension and a wider track all round. The stif fer elastokinematics, the autonomous axle 40 TARMAG.CO.UK
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kinematics with more negative camber all round and anti-roll bars with a larger cross-section result in higher agility and greater lateral acceleration. Specially adjusted spring and damper rates have optimised both the responsiveness of the suspension as well as the road roar and tyre vibration characteristics.. V i s u a l l y, t h e c o u p ĂŠ ve rsion of the C 63 AMG has a confident, athletic presence that is reminiscent of the high-per formance SL 6 3 A M G r o a d s t e r. A l l A M G specific design features have been skilfully combined with classic coupĂŠ propor tions. This compact two-door car has an exciting low profile, power ful shoulderline and a narrow C - p i l l a r. O t h e r ke y s t y l i n g aspects are the shor t overhang, long bonnet, steeply raked windscreen and long, stretched out roof. We can wait to get behind the wheel of this amazi n g c a r, i f i t s a s g o o d a s its 5 door brother then we are onto a winner!
Free roadMagazine magazine Freetrack Trackand and Road Š 2009 TarMag Extra care is taken when compiling the contents of this online publication but the staff, contributors cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or errors. TarMag isn’t responsible for any issues arising from any dealings with any advertisers within the publication.
TARMAG.CO.UK