Issue 27 — Spring 2015
MILES AHEAD...
Geneva Geneva Geneva‌ We Love You! Attending the much anticipated Geneva Motor Show for over a decade
New Rules Of The Road
Preparing for more changes that will affect our driving over the next few years
F1, The Race Is On!
World champion Lewis Hamilton definitely on a charge!
A Whole Lotta Quirky Car Facts Numerous car facts you might have never come across
Issue 27 - Spring 2015
Issue 27 — Spring 2015
MILES AHEAD...
Geneva Geneva Geneva… We Love You! Attending the much anticipated Geneva Motor Show for over a decade
New Rules Of The Road
Preparing for more changes that will affect our driving over the next few years
F1, The Race Is On!
World champion Lewis Hamilton definitely on a charge!
A Whole Lotta Quirky Car Facts
Editor’s Note Fleur Balzan
Numerous car facts you might have never come across
Publishers
b.Right new media Ltd. 19, Parish Street, St. Paul’s Bay, SPB 3362, Malta
Editor
Fleur Balzan fbalzan@b.rightnewmedia.com
Contributors
Pierre Vella, Ben Glover, Mark Attard
Hair
Cut Coiffeur
Here it is… another issue of Wheelspin magazine and it’s another one filled with interesting and original reading. From Geneva we bring our readers information about just a few vehicles presented at this most important motor show, which every year leaves us speechless in front of the many breathtaking vehicles. Pierre Vella tells us more on the subject he specialises in, Formula One after just 4 races whilst Ben Glover writes about ‘new rules on the road’ or the need for them. And if there were any car facts you are not sure about, then Mark Attard has the information you require in his article about ‘quirky car facts’.
Make Up
All this, test drives and more car information written specifically for you, the Wheelspin reader!
Advertising & Sales
So turn the pages and read on!
Shasha
Fleur Balzan (+356) 21 576 154 (+356) 99 805 763
Pre-Press & Printing
Impressions Ltd., Marsa No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Inside the bottle it is business as usual, with the same great formulations you have come to know and love.
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In this issue Spring 2015
Features 4
Geneva, Geneva, Geneva… We Love You! Attending the Annual Geneva Motor Show
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MDRA For Charity Yet Another Success!!
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Wheelspin the TV Programme is 15 years old!
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A Whole Lotta Quirky Facts
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F1, the Race is On! Lewis Hamilton definitely on a charge!
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The New Rules of the Road Preparing for more changes that will affect our driving over the next few years
Launches
Test Drives
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The Citroën DS5: Desirable Luxury
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Long Term Toyota Aygo The Fun Car that Brightens your Day
Launches The latest cars to arrive in Malta
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GENEVA
GENEVA
GENEVA‌ WE L VE YOU!
BY FLEUR BALZAN
I simply love the month of March for one reason and that is that it is the month when, each year we get to visit the much anticipated Geneva Motor Show. This year the Wheelspin team tried hard to think back at the first time we made it to this Motor Show and couldn’t conclude if it was ten or eleven years ago. Whichever year it was, we have been present here every consecutive year and not only because we love cars but mainly due to its importance to the European and Global Motoring Industry. One cannot be in this industry and not be present, in some way or other, at the Geneva Motor Show!!
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FEATURE• Geneva, Geneva, Geneva… We Love You! by Fleur Balzan
Like every other year, practically most of the manufacturers present in Geneva choose this event to present some new model or product. This year saw no less than 220 exhibitors in all presenting 150 world premieres. We were just a small team from amongst other 11,300 journalists present during the press days but, although we could not manage to feature everything, one can rest assured that we managed quite a few long hours of work, resulting in several hours of footage and therefore plenty to show our viewers.
Class. Mercedes only introduced the V to the Mercedes alphabet last year and yet within a matter of months the brand saw the sales of their MPV’s increase thanks to this model. The V Class is a van yet with the comfort and luxury of any other Mercedes vehicle. If not more! Many things stood out in this car on show. The white luxury interior, the messaging, luxury seats, the overall lavish feel of the dashboard not to mention the fact that it was also being presented as a plug in hybrid model.
For those that prefer to read about these events, here, on these pages, we are trying to gather the many vehicles that struck us. So let’s have a look at the various brands and what they had on show. 2 We’ll start with Mercedes Benz that every year attracts us to its stand for several hours and for more than one reason! There was plenty to see on this huge stand but the biggest icons must definitely have been the new Mercedes GLE, the new Mercedes V-Class and the sporty Mercedes AMG GT3(1), the car that was described to give the same adrenaline rush as a car on the race track.
Sticking with larger vehicles we move on the Land Rover brand and to the cars that were present in Geneva. Here Land Rover presented the new Range Rover Evoque(3) which has been given a face lift. This car has brought tremendous success to Land Rover. It has attracted new clients to the brand and has reached record sales in the past. Land Rover also chose this motor show to tease about an upcoming convertible model of the Evoque, one we cannot wait to see in the near future.
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The Mercedes GLE 450 AMG(2), as presented in Geneva, is an SUV with coupe styling and plenty of elegance. It is an SUV in practice with the AMG adding the race track feeling to daily driving. It is spacious and comfortable and with a luxury feel to it inside. The car offers a choice of different drives from Individual, Comfort to Slippery, Sport or Offroad thanks to the Dynamic Select system. We can only imagine, at this point, what a rewarding drive this car can offer. The other vehicle which also stood out on this stand is the Mercedes V
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The new Discovery Sport(4) was also presented in Geneva. Longer and more spacious, this model was shown both as a five and seven seater. Although new this model still remains loyal to the Land Rover image and is sure to appeal to those Land Rover loyalists out there. This model has since arrived in Malta.
4 Other luxurious yet practical vehicles were from the brand BMW that presented the BMW 2 series Gran Tourer(5). The brand is aiming at attracting new clients thanks to this model by offering even more family oriented features, which include the addition of 2 seats at the back. This is becoming popular with many brands yet in this case, BMW has not sacrificed the luxury feel the car offers. I can’t wait for this car to arrive locally to get the chance to try it out on our roads!
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BMW also presented the new 1 series(6) in Geneva and we must say that this car has a sportier and an even more stylish look to it than ever before. The main changes are to the face with new LED lights and changes to the grille and also to the rear lights. However other changes to the side
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FEATURE• Geneva, Geneva, Geneva… We Love You! by Fleur Balzan
lines give it an even more stylish image. The lines are less sharp and curvier and in my opinion, give the car a sportier and more of a panache look, both on the 3 and 5 door models. Audi too had some fabulous models on show especially with the revelation of the Audi R8(7), the brands supercar that has achieved so many successes for the brand. The Audi R8 e-tron was also revealed together with an LMS Racing version of the R8 which we not only had the opportunity to view on the stand but also to hear the sound of too. And it was music to our ears!!
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Luxurious and sporty were the two models presented by Porsche in Geneva. These were the Porsche Cayman GT4 and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS(8). The Cayman GT4 has a sixspeed three-pedal manual instead of a dual-clutch and produces 385bhp. The car has been produced for both the road and the track though it is being said that a special model built purposely for the track is in the works. The 911GT3 RS is, on the other hand, the most powerful 911 ever and it features a naturally aspirated 4 litre six cylinder engine, paired with a seven-speed PDK gearbox. This car produces 493bph and goes from standstill to 100km in just 3.3 seconds. Breathtaking to say the least!
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VW had quite some spectacular vehicles on their stand starting with the VW Passat which, in Geneva, won the car of the year award thanks to the cleaner engines that have been introduced in this model. However the star to take centre stage on this stand must have been the VW Sport Coupe Concept(9). This is a sporty sedan so rich in innovation. The face of the car is stunning with a wide grille practically incorporating the LED headlights and an interior which is simply beautiful. Presented in a yellowish gold colour, eyes could not but be drawn to it immediately it was spotted. SEAT on the other hand too had a particular concept car that may appeal to many car enthusiasts! This is the 20V20(10) with the ‘V’ standing for vision. This particular model is a stylish dynamic SUV in the same segment as the Nissan Qashqai but SEAT has truly come up with a design that is beautiful and refined!
a wagon and incorporates the latest technology from the Toyota brand, including lane departure warning, sign recognition, pre collision warning etc. Both models were introduced with new and cleaner engines.
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Subaru presented the new Outback(12) plus a completely new model by the name of Levorg, a compact wagon which has, only recently been introduced in Japan. Subaru are hoping to have similar successes when introducing this new model in Europe in the coming months.
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Moving on to other attractive but more accessible vehicles we look at the New Toyota Auris and the new Toyota Avensis. The Auris(11) has been given a facelift and is now even more attractive with a more modern image and better quality interior. The Avensis on the other hand is a larger vehicle that comes as a sedan or as
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Renault had a new segment vehicle on the stand, the new Renault Kadjar. I must say we were anxious WHEELSPIN
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FEATURE• Geneva, Geneva, Geneva… We Love You! by Fleur Balzan
to see this model as it is appealing in both practicality and looks, taking a lot of styling cues from the ever so popular Captur. The Kadjar is larger than the Captur, a 4x4 SUV, and Renault has done another brilliant job with this model. Attractive, Stylish, spacious, practical and with high quality material used for the interior, this car may well be the next success story for the brand. It is very clear that SUV’s and MPV’s are once again growing in popularity probably since the introduction of newer technology that can make these cars less polluting than times gone by. Citroen too chose to introduce an MPV in Geneva in the form of its popular Berlingo which we had previously seen as a basic, small commercial vehicle. Now Citroen has revamped the Berlingo(13) to make it more appealing. They have restyled it and improved on the features offered within the vehicle to also make it attractive for family use. From van to MPV the Berlingo has retained its practical nature, while still being spacious and ideal for sport activities too!
changes to the front and the interior yet the biggest changes are definitely under the bonnet.
Peugeot’s stand in Geneva was packed with practically all the current models available from the brand, including 3 concept cars being the Quartz, the Exalt and the Onyx. Yet the car to stand out was the new Peugeot 208 hatchback. This model has been given a facelift with minor
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Obviously once at this motor show one had to visit and view the spectacular dream cars too. The McLaren 675LT(14) was simply
Peugeot have introduced new Euro 6 engines which are being said to be the ‘best in class’, reducing further the carbon footprint and producing vehicles with the most significant reductions in emissions and giving better economy. Cleaner vehicles were definitely in abundance in Geneva, and one thing that was noted was that more and more manufacturers are working to improve their engines by reducing emissions, improving economy yet without sacrificing on the performance.
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impressive as was the Bugatti Veyron Finale, the 450th limited edition model of this fastest vehicle. The Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce and the Ferrari 488 GTB(15) were also a sight for sore eyes as were many other vehicles such as the Aston Martin Vulcan and the Zenvo ST1(16). So how can we not love it? Geneva, see you next year!
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ne of the vehicles driven recently is the Citroen DS5, a 5 door luxurious vehicle by this brand DS, which was conceived from the idea to create vehicles to compete with the more deluxe brands. So from Citroen was born the Citroen DS and from what we have seen so far, this off spring is turning out to be one huge success! We had seen the DS3 which achieved instant popularity, then the DS4 yet for some reason or other the DS5 may not be the most talked about model from the brand. Why this is the case may be unclear but after driving this car, we are impressed by the package it offers and would definitely put it forward to compete with the likes of BMW, Mercedes and the likes! When you look at the vehicle you may be excused for not being sure whether this is a hatchback, a wagon or a low MPV as the vehicle is long and spacious. Yet the lower sided roof at the rear puts it more into the hatchback segment, though a very spacious hatchback if that be the case. We were lucky to drive the fully loaded version of the DS5 which included a full panoramic roof which may be covered in sections, even separate for driver and front passenger. The touches of chrome on the sides of the
vehicle running from the A pillar to the sides of the bonnet, and also below the front and rear doors, make it look even more luxurious whilst the A pillar which is divided in two, give it a more sporty look while adding to the visibility whilst driving. The model driven is the 1.6 litre blue HDi, a Euro six engine that is equipped with a 6 speed manual gearbox which is very smooth. It includes features such as ABS with electronic brake force distribution and emergency braking system, amongst other features which increase the security of the vehicle. The vehicle is solid, with great handling and perfect road grip. The suspension is slightly sporty but offering a very comfortable drive on any type of road. Definitely a car one would enjoy driving long distances in. The car is also a clean one with CO2 emissions being as low as 102gm/km and the brand is saying that the car uses between 3.9 litres and 4.6 litres of fuel for every 100km, depending on the type of driving, combined or urban. Economical to say the least! We sure wish we could have driven this car for longer to prove these figures! Other comforts within the vehicle itself are the infotainment screen. This not only includes a navigation system and the usual Bluetooth and smart phone connections but it also includes a compass system which actually shows in which direction one is driving. That besides the usual car and drive information which are a great help to make one drive better and achieve better economy! All that and the spacious interior make this car a very desirable one, luxurious, sporty and practical. A family car which is also executive and stylish too!
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MDRA FOR CHARITY‌
YET ANOTHER SUCCESS! The MDRA for Charity kept its 31st March appointment to hold yet another event in aid of Charity, this year in aid of the Community Chest Fund. This is the 10th year that the event was held to the joy of motoring enthusiasts, especially motor sport fanatics. The event, held once more at the Hal Far Race Track, is organised thanks to the hard work of Mario Mifsud and other volunteers that each year dedicate their time for a worthy cause. Most of the different motoring clubs were present on the day showing off their various automobiles. Drivers had the opportunity to race their vehicles on the quarter mile race track for just a small fee, all for charity, whilst others simply showed off the result of much hard work spent on their cars. Mr. Edgar Preca attended the event as did Hon. Joe Mizzi, Minister for Transport who raced against our own Pierre Vella, both of them, in an electric car!
The Hon. Joe Mizzi
VS
Wheelspin’s Pierre Vella
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Launches
FEATURE• Online Crime
by Ben Glover
New Opel Corsa This is the ‘Oh’ factor, the car that has left us wondering oh what a package it is! This is the new Opel Corsa that has finally arrived on our shores. The Opel Corsa was launched during a media event at the Opel Showroom. It is said to be the small car that is packed with innovations and comes in either 3 or 5 doors The Corsa may be viewed at the Opel Showroom in Mdina Road, Qormi.
Land Rover Discovery Sport The new Discovery Sport has arrived in Malta. The unveiling of this vehicle was held at the Muscats Motors premises in Gzira where media and clients were invited to view this premium design vehicle which comes both as a 5 seater and a 5+2 seater. The Land Rover Discovery Sport may be viewed at the Muscats Motors Showroom in Rue D’Argens, Gzira.
Smart Fortwo and Smart Forfour We have attended their unveiling in Berlin and driven them in Barcelona and now these two city cars have arrived in Malta. The Smart Fortwo is a two seater whilst the Forfour is a four seater, as the names imply. Both cars are more stylish than ever while still being loyal to the image of the icons they are known to be. With increased technology and refined styling these city cars incorporate the best from Daimler in the small package that they are. The Smart Fortwo and Smart Forfour may be viewed at the Kind’s Autosales showroom in Lija.
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FEATURE• Wheelspin The TV Programme Is 15 Years Old!
T
his season Wheelspin celebrates its 15th year on Television making it the longest running Motoring Programme in Malta. The Wheelspin faces have changed over the years. In the first year it was Maris Zammit who hosted the show and she was later followed by Moira Delia who for many seasons brought the latest motoring news into the houses of our many viewers.
Many have been those that have in some way or another contributed towards the show, Kenneth Rizzo Naudi was involved in the creation of Wheelspin besides contributing as test driver. There was Patrick Gauci, Edmund Vassallo and Jan Karl Farrugia who were regular contributors on the show and for the last few years Pierre Vella has become a very integral part of the programme too.
Following Moira’s moving on I took over the presentation of the programme after having already been responsible for the production since the concept of the programme.
We cannot however fail to mention the person behind the camera and also responsible for the visual production, Robert Vassallo, who has been with us for the last 14 years.
by Fleur Balzan
He is a vital part of the programme and the team, as are the people behind the music for Wheelspin, Paul Giordimaina and Andrew Zammit of Tone Studios. They create the tunes that are immediately recognised as Wheelspin. With them, our clients and our viewers, we celebrate this milestone as we continue working towards keeping Wheelspin miles ahead…!
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A WHOLE LOTTA QUIRKY CAR FACTS BY MARK ATTARD
There are 1 BILLION CARS currently in use on earth. 1896 - THE FIRST ROAD TRAFFIC DEATH. 1902 - THE FIRST SPEEDING TICKET was issued. Most cars could barely reach 45 mph. 82 YEARS - The number of years Mr Allen Swift, of Springfield, MA, drove his 1928 Rolls-Royce Roadster. 1907 - the first purpose built motor racing circuit, Brooklands, opens in Weybridge, Surrey. 42 SECONDS - fastest time for removing an engine and replacing it, using a Ford Escort on 21 Nov 1985. 1927 - THE FIRST ELECTRIC TRAFFIC LIGHTS were launched in Wolverhampton. THE DASH BOARD was originally a piece of wood attached to a horsedrawn carriage that would prevent mud from splattering the driver as the horse galloped. 1769 - THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. The damaged vehicle is still preserved in the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris. 1935 - THE FIRST COIN-OPERATED PARKING METER was Installed in Oklahoma City. 19 INCHES - the height of the world’s lowest street legal car. The flatmobile was built by Perry Watkins from Buckinghamshire. 14
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It would take LESS THAN 6 MONTHS to get to the moon by car if you drive at around 95km/h.
For 4 years the Ford Fiesta was the BEST-SELLING VEHICLE IN THE UK. Over 100,000 are bought each year.
FLAT ASPHALT was introduced for cyclists not motorists as is commonly believed.
KAZUNORI YAMAUCHI creator of the Gran Turismo videogames helped develop the Nissan GT-R and has been racing professionally since 2009.
HITLER, while in prison, wrote to a Mercedes dealership begging for a car loan.
80% of cars registered in Albania are Mercedes-Benzes.
€8.7 MILLION - the most expensive car ever manufactured, the Bugatti 1931 Royale Kellner Coupe.
DANGER! DANGER! South African BMWs can be equipped with flame throwers to prevent car jacking.
The Iconic ROLLS-ROYCE hood ornament is called ‘The Spirit of Ecstacy’. In 2008 a special edition encrusted with diamonds was designed, with an asking price of €200.000.
TOYOTA the world’s largest car manufacturer produces 13,000 cars every day.
Up to 19 GIRLS can be crammed into a Smart Car.
99 DAYS will be spent stuck in traffic by the average British driver over the course of their lifetime. As for the Maltese, the calculations are still under way…
The cost to have someone else drive your car through a traffic jam in China is €42. The original driver is whisked away on a motorbike.
THE ‘NEW CAR SMELL’ is composed of over 50 volatile organic compounds. Fortunately, they are non-toxic.
STEVE JOBS’ car never had a licence plate due to a loophole in Californian state law.
Drivers over the age of 75 must display the KORELSHA (elderly car) mark in the back of their vehicle in Japan.
The world’s OLDEST SURVIVING CAR was built in France for the Count De Dion in 1884. It was sold at auction in 2011 for € 4.6 MILLION.
Many British traffic policemen carry TEDDY BEARS to console children with, after car crashes.
€1,000,000 - The largest speeding fine ever, fined to a Swedish man who got clocked doing 180 mph in Switzerland were fines are proportionate to income.
1 OUT OF 4 cars produced in the world comes from China. 960 MILLION HOURS - The amount of time Britons collectively waste in traffic jams each year.
FEATURE• A Whole Lotta Quirky Car Facts by Mark Attard A modern Fl car can DRIVE UPSIDE DOWN in a tunnel at 120 mph.
In 1941, Henry Ford made a car out of SOYBEANS.
60 MILLION CARS are produced in a single year. That’s 165,000 cars a day.
The world’s FASTEST STREET-LEGAL PRODUCTION CAR is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, at 267 mph (431 km/h)
Holding a remote car key to your head doubles its range because the human skull acts as an AMPLIFIER. A car has been developed in Germany which is CONTROLLED SOLELY BY THE THOUGHTS of the driver.
The vehicle with the HIGHEST MILEAGE covered a total of 2,850,000 miles (4,586,630 km). The INVENTOR OF THE CRUISE CONTROL was blind.
95% of a car’s lifetime is spent parked. Sweden’s Volvo made the three-point SEATBELT DESIGN PATENT open and available to other car manufacturers for free, in the interest of safety. It saves one life every 6 minutes.
There are MORE CARS PEOPLE in Los Angeles.
THAN
In Turkmenistan, car drivers are entitled to 120 Liters of FREE PETROL a month.
HONKING your car horn, except in an emergency, is illegal in New York City.
CAR WRECKS are the number one cause of death for Americans under 35.
Most new cars FAKE ENGINE NOISE through speakers. They are quite silent otherwise.
It is a criminal offence to drive around in a DIRTY CAR in Russia.
When the CAR RADIO was introduced, some states wanted to ban it arguing that it could distract drivers and cause accidents. The odds of dying in a CAR ACCIDENT are around 1 in 5,000. The FIRST CAR ACCIDENT occurred in 1891, in Ohio. 75% OF ROLLS-ROYCE CARS ever produced are still on the road. The average American spends about 38 HOURS a year stuck in traffic. VOLKSWAGEN owns Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, Ducati and Porsche. 92% of all new sold cars in Brazil use ETHANOL AS FUEL, which is produced from sugar cane. The average car has 30,000 PARTS.
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LONG TERM
Toyota Aygo THE FUN CAR THAT BRIGHTENS YOUR DAY BY FLEUR BALZAN
I
am admiring the new Toyota Aygo from afar as it is being delicately taken care of and cleaned by the boys at J Micallef service station, our associates for keeping the Wheelspin vehicles clean. We have had the car for nearly 3 months now and it feels strange how such a small vehicle has actually grown on me!
I can hardly believe it when I think how, in the past I didn’t like the idea of small vehicles as much. Then, I never felt too safe in these vehicles and comfort was simply not something that came with the package. ‘You get what you pay for’, one would have said but if you had to think of an appropriate phrase for such a car now, it would more likely be: ‘essence comes in small bottles’! Ok, maybe the saying is more familiar to us if said in Maltese but I bet you all get the gist of it!! In the case of the Toyota Aygo, besides the cuteness which we already mentioned in the last issue, the car has many positive points to 16
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it. The car available to us comes with practically all the features including sport seats and a multi function touch screen.
So let’s start by having a look at the comfort! The seats on this particular model are very comfortable especially for the driver and front
TEST DRIVE • Long Term Toyota Aygo, The Fun Car That Brightens Your Day
passenger. They are not too low and in fact offer quite an elevated seating position and offer support at the lower back. The rear seats are also practical. Of course this is a small car but I have tried it carrying four adults and there were no complaints. Children on the other hand are ultra comfortable plus the fact that one can check if the rear seat belts are being used through a feature on the dashboard helps in keeping watch of young, mischievous children without removing your eyes off the road. Space in the boot may be limited but I managed quite a few shopping bags without ever having to make use of the folded rear seats. So unless one has to carry some large object, it is more than convenient. For those having to carry a pushchair, I would suggest buying the car first than finding a pushchair that fits. That’s to be practical! Other comfortable features are all within the touch screen system. Let’s start with the reversing camera which is visible on this screen. Parallel parking has never been so easy! I’ve always been excellent in parallel parking but this camera just makes one exceptional in it. You can come to one inch from the car/object behind you and not once risk hitting anything when you reverse. The Bluetooth system is also very good. One can have multiple phones paired with this system and once you start the engine, you are connected. The screen can show you the contacts on the phone or the phone’s log history and one may also save the most used numbers in a favourites list
thus making calling so much simpler. Should one wish to send a message to any particular number, there are also standard messages such as: ‘be there in 10 min’, that are simple to send. Obviously one should not risk sending these messages whilst driving but they come in handy when at a standstill in traffic. That’s besides mentioning the fact that the system can also read your emails the second they are received on your smart phone! The same touch screen can give further details of the car and the drive and this I find so useful! So let’s talk about the drive which, I believe, is the most important aspect when it comes to choosing one’s vehicle.
Well although this is a 1 litre 3 cylinder petrol engine, the acceleration is good and even when the car was fully occupied, the drive was decent. The suspension is soft and comfortable and although the car is light, bumps on the road are handled gracefully. The handling is good with a light steering wheel which is precise. Corners are taken easily with practically no body roll. One can simply cruise on and enjoy the drive, and if I may say, enjoy the economical side of the vehicle which is outstanding!
by Fleur Balzan
One has to mention that when we took over the vehicle, it already had over 3,000 miles on the clock and it was very apparent that whoever had been driving it had no intention to benefit from the economical drive this car may offer. In fact the reading on the clock stood at 39 miles per gallon equivalent to 6.05 litres per 100km. Some would say this is not so bad but in our opinion it was way too little for such a car. In fact after a few weeks of driving, the average consumption was improving dramatically and after just a few hundred miles more on the clock, the consumption stood at 44 miles/gal which translates to 5.33 litres per 100km. Toyota is saying that this car is actually so economical that it can actually drive 69 miles to the gallon, meaning 3.4 litres per 100km and at the rate we are seeing the change on the clock with it comes to miles/gal it is very likely that, if we had to keep the car for longer, and of course with the proper driving, these figures may be reached. Besides the great economy of this Aygo which makes it a clean one, the CO2 emissions are also very low at 95g/km.
The Aygo we have been driving has a 5 speed manual gearbox which is very smooth. There is a choice of a 5 speed automatic called xshift which many may find convenient if they prefer automatic drive. The engine available is only one, the 1 litre petrol, but on this kind of car, this is more than adequate and honestly gives the fun drive Toyota is saying it has. So go on, ‘go fun yourself’ and try out this car. We have utterly enjoyed our time with it!
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FORMULA 1:
THE RACE IS
ON! Words PIERRE VELLA Images STEVE ETHERINGTON
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he F1 season 2015, started off in Melbourne Australia, where Albert Park for four days is converted to a street race to host the FIA F1 championship. This is the 66th season of the new era of F1 which had commenced in the distant 1950. This is the second year running with engine size reduction coupled up with a turbo and a sophisticated energy recovery system. Aerodynamically, things have been slightly tweaked but the emphasis is on power and driveability. With Mercedes 2014 dominance, many were those that wished for a rebalance of power last year. Second strong runners were Williams who carried the same engine power as the Mercedes F1 team. However it was Daniel Ricciardo that robbed three wins driving his underpowered Renault Red Bull, plus putting up some fantastic racing. So in a way when it comes to consistency the much improved Williams team was somewhat expected to be a strong opponent for 2015. Driver movements were another issue! Fernando Alonso’s love affair at Ferrari came to an end, and he returned back to his original departure point, McLaren. The only difference is that Mercedes had left and there was the much expected return of Honda. Four times world champion and after a disastrous 2014 year, Sebastian Vettel decided to change colours from
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blue to red and so he moved to Ferrari. Incidentally many bad things had been said about Ferrari’s administration but it was 2014, when Domenicali was still at Ferrari, that Vettel was approached as Alonso had already indicated to the team that he was to be leaving the Italian team. Strange how Vettel tends to keep the letter M, moving from Milton Keynes to Maranello! Daniil Kyvat had an instant promotion from Toro Rosso to Red Bull having as team mate Ricciardo. Back at Toro Rosso, are two very young drivers, Carlos Sainz Jr., whose father was world rally champion, and Max Verstappen, whose father was also an F1 driver. Previously the test driver for Williams, Brazilian Felipe Nasr moved to Sauber as racing driver. Nasr was joined by Marcus Ericsson who was part of the Caterham team which was dissolved at the end of last year. These first four races managed to illustrate the ups and downs of what we have in store for this season. However, this is only the beginning with the Bahrain GP bringing to a close the first away races. Pre season testing has been limited so the first races were an extended period of testing for some teams.
FEATURE• F1, The Race Is On! by Pierre Vella
Definitely, teams like McLaren, with their new Honda power plan, were definitely on an uphill struggle. Their pre season testing accident with Fernando Alonso threw a dark and mysterious cloud on what exactly could happen. Their maiden race in Australia was a nightmare with both drivers qualifying at the back of the grid and having Kevin Magnusson replacing Alonso who was still recuperating from his accident. Once on track Mercedes showed their force, with recent world champion Lewis Hamilton definitely on a charge, keeping the rest of the following pact, including his team mate, at a safe distance. However Hamilton and many in the pit lane are surprised with what Ferrari has achieved. Much had occurred in 2014. Three different team principals, three top personnel given gardening leave, and the team boss given a golden handshake to leave quietly, so this did not argue well for the 2015 championship. However new recruit technical director James Allison was looking towards giving everyone a surprise.
from the sport. Well I do not blame them! Having been four years at the pinnacle of the sport, it does hurt when you come crashing down. However the story goes that Red Bull might just buy big into F1 with team principal, Christian Horner being the preferred replacement to Bernie Ecclestone. So will Red Bull sell out their team and take charge of F1 proceedings? For sure it would be called Red Bull F1 Championship. Just speculating, but if you do not speculate, there will never be a story! Red Bull seems to be also short in chassis design with a big problem with the issue of brakes which is definitely hampering the team moving forward. Lewis Hamilton this year seems to be in a class of his own. Not just in his driving but also physiologically and he is hindering Nico Rosberg’s progress. Rosberg seems to have placed himself in a state of limited performance and just can’t get over that edge.
The Englishman had the task to redesign the Ferrari 2015 F1 car which he did, and the results have been very promising even though there is still ground which needs to be chartered to come closer to the Mercedes front runners. The 2014 contender was underpowered and this had to be compensated aerodynamically. Unfortunately this did not happen and Ferrari endured one of their worst years ever. A new design and a closer look at the engine resulted in Ferrari improving their game, surprising all with winning the second GP of the season in Malaysia. Ferrari FS15T car seems to be competitive but still not at par with Mercedes who, after losing round 2, stepped up their game with a rather innovative front spoiler in China. Williams with drivers Felipe Massa and Valteri Bottas looked extremely positive in 2014. Unfortunately their 2015 contender seems to have lost its lustre with a rather reduced top speed and a few aero dynamical errors. This is resulting in structure failure which, even though small, are resulting in the drivers not being at ease with their machines. The Red Bull team seems to be rather undecided, one time blaming Renault, the other threatening to retire
The duo from the Sauber team menioned previously, Nasr and Ericsson, have been constantly in the points, and they have really put up a great show with some phenomenal racing. But most important is the way that they are racing. So clean with no unexpected moves on their components. Same can be said about the duo from Toro Rosso, drivers Sainz and Verstappen who as a team seem to be outshining their bigger brothers at Red Bull. Definitely a double retirement in China did not help but up to the moment of retirement both drivers, especially the Dutchman, were putting a stop to the criticism that was addressed towards them regarding lack of experience. Williams seems to have slightly improved but both Ferrari and Williams are not there when it comes to total performance compared to Mercedes. These first four races have provided a spectacle with Mercedes definitely a winning factor but the competition is close. Is it that close that it can hinder the progress of the German team and Lewis Hamilton? Or will team mate Nico Rosberg finally get his act together and challenge Hamilton towards winning the championship? WHEELSPIN
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e have been pushed from pillar to post when it has come to what and how we drive on our roads. With road licence dictated from the age of the car, it’s origin and exhaust emissions I wonder how much more we can take. After all driving is supposed to be a pleasure in the same way Sunday’s are meant to be with the family. I’ve always enjoyed classic cars. My latest edition to the family is a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Yes, she’s almost 23 years old, leaks like a sieve and has more rust than I have had pastizzi, but she’s mine! Old cars come at a price. Although I paid just over €200, it has cost me FOUR times as much just to get it on the road and I’ve enjoyed every cent going into the project. Back in 1993 the rules of emissions didn’t really affect us too much, let alone the road licence. That said we have come a long way since then with the advancement in technology giving us some amazing cars. My Golf comes with a 2 litre 8v petrol engine and is running at 110BHP. These days Ford are getting 40BHP more out of a 1.0 engine! Safety has increased so much that many fire fighters in the UK don’t get to cut the roof of cars that have been involved in road collisions anymore, simply because the shell around us on the road has become a bubble reducing injuries. Prepare yourself for some more changes in the motor industry that will affect the way we drive over the next few years.
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FEATURE• The New Rules of the Road by Ben Glover
We already have breathalysers that test for alcohol limits (not used enough in my opinion), and with drug driving almost twice as worse as drinking when hitting the road, this can’t come soon enough. Both are a serious issue on our roads that cause serious accidents – a massive burden on our hospital and health care!
Fuel Consumption Reducing fuel reduces emissions. Engines have already become more efficient with many of us enjoying high MPG from such a small power unit. With the European Union piling on the pressure to manufacturers to help with our fuel bills, by the start of 2016, all will have to have met a 44MPG target (54.5 MPG by2021). That means big names like Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and Land Rover are all developing hybrids, some of which are already out there. It will come at a cost though. It’s estimated to cost the car makers over $2.1billion with a loss made on each car just to hit these goals alone.
Daytime Running Lights DRL – Daytime Running Lights are now compulsory since European Union legislation adopted in 2008 required them to be fitted to all new ‘types’ of passenger cars and small delivery vans since February 2011. Trucks and buses followed from August 2012. They have often caused many passers-by to let us know we are ‘driving with our lights on’ during the day. That is their job, to increase our presence and reduce accidents. However, new rules are thought to be drawn up for 2015 defining illegal use of fog lamps as DRL’s. Confused? Me too. In essence many people are replacing their fog lamps (a standard test for the VRT) with DRLs. Although we may not get fog very often in Malta it is still a requirement if visibility is 100 meters or less.
Road Side Drug Tests With the onset of technology comes new devices at the disposal of the police. Drug testing kits are being rolled out in the UK and if successful could be used here.
Road Fund The good old paper disc on the windscreen! It costs us a small fortune in order to keep our motors on the road for the next twelve months. Having lived in the UK the burden of paying a higher fee for just six months (a small deduction in a 12 month purchase) is made easy here. If you are to purchase a car in the UK you may find a car without one! As of October 2014 any private vehicle in the UK does not have to display one. However, you still have to buy it. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras (ANPR) at the roadside and on police vehicles will automatically know if a vehicle has no tax, insurance or MOT/VRT. You can pay monthly and online – worth checking before you buy!
Bugged Cars As of this year the EU has ruled every new car must be fitted with a ‘black box’ device. Now before you roll your eyes and go all ‘Big Brother’ this is not a bad thing. The idea is that it will detect if you have been involved in an accident. The box will then send a signal via GPS to alert the emergency services. Great if you live in the UK, not great if you live here. As a country we are not well equipped for this type of technology, and to be fair we are small enough not to need it. Some car manufacturers, including BMW and Volvo, already include eCall devices in their latest models. An ‘SOS’ type button near the dashboard, linked to a SIM card, allows drivers to call 112/999 in urgency. What’s more if airbags are deployed it automatically sends a text message to emergency services with the car’s location – as well as its unique vehicle ID number. WHEELSPIN
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FEATURE• The New Rules of the Road by Ben Glover
Take-up is on a voluntary basis and has been low across the industry, so the EU ruled all new car models must include eCall from October 1, 2015. You will not be able to switch it off and it will be tested in VRT checks. It has opened the privacy debate as to whether this is the start of things to come!
New Drivers Under the new rules there will be changes to the licensing categories for motorcycles, including the introduction of a new medium-sized category. Access to more powerful bikes will be staged subject to competence, age and previous experience. The minimum age for riding the largest bikes without previous experience will be set at 24 (currently you may ride any size of motorcycle, two years after passing a motorcycle test on a small motorcycle, and that can apply to riders as young as 19).
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From the same date, all drivers of buses and lorries will have to demonstrate a medical fitness test at renewal of their driving licences every five years (currently in the UK). For bus drivers, the minimum age will increase from 21 to 24. However, this will not apply to drivers who successfully complete the certificate of professional competence (CPC) initial qualification: they may continue to drive in a professional capacity from the age of 18 on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50 km or from the age of 20, when the 50 km restriction on the length of the route does not apply.
y p p Ha ring! o t o m
SPOT INFO
Peugeot 108 TOP! Black, Grey or Purple Berry? Choose your roof colour on the new Peugeot 108 TOP!
screen that mirrors your Smartphone and a back-up camera that helps you park in a flash.
Featuring a fully retractable canvas roof that’ll give you a fresh perspective on the city, its adaptable exterior is designed to fit your unique style.
Available also with the new 1.2-litre PureTech VTi 82bhp engine, combining CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.
5 themes to personalise the convertible: exterior patterns, mirror covers, interior patterns, floor mats, key covers.
Discover this exciting convertible at Michael Attard Ltd, National Road, Blata l-Bajda. The new PEUGEOT 108 TOP! ranges from €11,995.
Elegant and packed with hightech features including a large touch
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The New Passat named European Car of the Year 2015 After 41 years on the market, the Passat has become the symbol of success for the Volkswagen brand - the most popular model in its current range. This formula for success is carried forward in the new 2015 Passat,
a car that sits comfortably between the premium and mainstream market segments. This is a completely new model built on VW’s acclaimed MQB platform, yet it retains the unmistakable exterior design that underlines its continuity with the Passat heritage. The Car of the Year 2015 winner is a typical VW in that it delivers quality and functionality in every aspect. Lightweight, compact but roomy with the biggest luggage space in its class! Excellent road behaviour combines with a comfortable ride to round off its fun-todrive character. The Passat will be available from Continental Cars from the second week of May.
Sicily - The Right Time to Enjoy the Southern Foothills of Etna At this time of the year the foothills of Etna are just bursting with colour. Nowhere in the countryside of Sicily do you see such intense colour, the result of the fertile volcanic soil. The towns of Zafferana Etnea and Nicolosi are the towns you should aim for; if you pick up the new autostrada from Rosolini you should be there in just under 2 hours. Both towns are quaint little places offering a choice where you can get a really good traditional meal for nothing like the price you normally pay back home – this is really value for money. They are also the starting point of any number of leisurely country walks when you can enjoy the true fauna and flora of Etna. These are also
the last southern foothill towns on the way to the craters of Etna. Join the fun in the lush Sicilian countryside.
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SPOT INFO
The Land Rover Discovery Sport A new design that defines the new Discovery family, this is the New Discovery Sport. With leadership design and engineering integrity this new vehicle has a dynamic profile making full use of the interior space with 5+2 seating configurability. The car is adventurous yet versatile, designed with the customer in mind. With plenty of storage space and useful 12V points and USB charging sockets spread across the three rows, plus additional innovations, the Discovery Sport remains a premium compact SUV offering convenience and driving dynamics. Comfort for on road driving yet with the capability of driving on all-terrains the Discovery Sport is loyal to the Land Rover Core it is renowned for. Safety continues to be a key priority in the Discovery Sport with the addition of a pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking and
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a state of the art bodyshell featuring both ultra high strength steel and lightweight aluminium. All this plus
other advanced equipment make the Land Rover Discovery Sport the most accomplished vehicle in its segment.
WHEELSPIN • Issue 27 - Spring 2015
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