#33 - AUTUMN 2016
LE MONDIAL DE L’AUTOMOBILE 2016 aka THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW We take a good look at the stunning cars (and stands!) at this year’s show EYES ON THE ROAD FOR SAFER DRIVING We need to do our part to make our roads safer CARS DRIVEN… …including the Hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai in London MORRIS MINOR – TAKE ME TO CHURCH A story with one particular classic
#33 - AUTUMN 2016
PUBLISHERS b.Right new media Ltd. 19, Parish Street, St. Paul’s Bay, SPB 3362, Malta
Editor’s Note
FLEUR BALZAN
EDITOR Fleur Balzan fbalzan@b.rightnewmedia.com
CONTRIBUTORS Pierre Vella Kenneth Rizzo Naudi Ben Glover Mark Attard
MAKE UP Shasha
ADVERTISING & SALES Fleur Balzan (+356) 21 576 154 (+356) 99 805 763
PRE-PRESS & PRINTING Impressions Ltd., Marsa
Welcome to the new Face of Wheelspin! As you may have noticed this issue is flaunting some changes to the magazine, in line with the changes introduced on our TV programme which commenced, for the 17th series, on the last week of September. What hasn’t changed however is the quality of the magazine and the articles presented by our writers. Once again we have come up with some original articles which we hope will be informative but which at the same time, will keep you, our readers, entertained. Through this issue one will realise that the Wheelspin team has been busy travelling for various events over the past month. Kenneth Rizzo Naudi writes about our recent trip to Paris and the cars on show at the Paris Motor Show. Funny, during our trip to Paris the team tried to decide which was our first visit to this show and the changes seen over the years. We realized that the first Paris motor show visited was 12 years ago. And what about the changes? Well read Kenneth’s article and you will get an idea of the endless list of these. Pierre Vella writes about Road Safety on this issue. After all the tragic events on our roads lately, this was an article that HAD to find it’s way on these pages. Ben Glover has looked at the cars he believes are the Future Classics whilst Mark Attard brings us closer to some particular classics that are close to his heart, Morris Minors. I on the other hand write about our experience driving the Hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai in London and other cars driven locally. On other pages you will also read about other features and launches including the International media event from Zagreb to Vienna for which Wheelspin was also present. Well, find out more about these topics as you turn the pages and we wish you a good read!
No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written consent of the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE
AUTUMN 2016
FEATURES 4
LE MONDIAL DE L’AUTOMOBILE 2016 AKA THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW
We take a good look at the stunning cars at this year’s show
10 WHICH CAR IS BEST?
Some may think this is a simple question to reply to
14 EYES ON THE ROAD FOR SAFER DRIVING We need to do our part to make our roads safer
20 MORRIS MINOR – TAKE ME TO CHURCH A story with one particular classic
22 FUTURE CLASSICS
Now’s the time to find yourself a future classic car
TEST DRIVES
LAUNCHES
16 CARS DRIVEN
12 LAUNCHES
Including the Hydrogen powered Toyota Mirai in London, as well as the Renault Megane and the VW Tiguan
The Renault Megane and the Ford Kuga
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MONDIAL DE L’AUTOMOBILE 2016 aka
PARIS MOTOR SHOW I
t had been quite a while since I attended an international motorfair; latest being Frankfurt 2008! Reason being simply that I wore a few brands’ hats (as we’d say the Maltese way) for all these years, and therefore it would have been unprofessional to ignore such conflict of interest and keep on test driving various marques as well as report from international fairs around the world. Free from any loyalty ties now, I am back with a bang contributing once more to the Wheelspin team that has grown so beautifully since its inception by Fleur and I back in 2000! Attending an international fair is an awesome event, whatever the product or service the fair is all about. The scale of things, the obvious budgets involved, the logistics behind the organisation all contribute to the grandeur that hits you as soon as you step in the first hall of any fair. In my humble opinion, the most stunning ones are yacht and automotive fairs!
Surely so, Le Mondial deux-mille-seize, as the French love calling it, hasn’t disappointed at all!! As I write, the fair has just closed its doors a day ago, and surely the teams of all the marques are relieved from the 18-day long marathon such an event involves! A few numbers: nearly 1.1 million visitors (and that’s not counting the 2 days dedicated to journalists), 1 in every 3 visitors intended to buy a car within 12 months, 1 in 3 were a first comer, 1 in 4 were women, 2 in 3 were under 50 and 1 in 3 was under 35 years old, 45% of visitors were French, and 93% of visitors were satisfied with the show (Source: Opinion Way survey of 1,000 visitors conducted from October 1 to 15 2016). Worth noting is that the number of visitors decreased by 14% from the 2014 edition (Paris and Frankfurt show are biannual events that alternate one another), but this was considerably better than the average 15-30% decrease of all French national events since the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.
by Kenneth Rizzo Naudi. Images: Anastasia Rizzo
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FEATURE• Paris Motor Show by Kenneth Rizzo Naudi
Let’s get to the jewels of the show however: the cars; and allow me to say as well the stands! Every marque had stunning stands on show, some more than the rest. The French were out in force of course! Renault featured a psychedelic 3-D pebble theme that had a huge span and blended beautifully with its centre stage treasure concept car called, aptly so, Trezor1! Superb lines that are
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as futuristic as they are elegant at the same time. Then there was its party-trick clamshell opening of the cockpit by elevating the entire roof and windscreen and bonnet as a whole, (ok, ok Batman; it was originally your party trick, we remember!). What I found weird though was why the windscreen was red? Perhaps it was an idea of the same guys who designed the Renault stand? Speaking of which I wonder how it would have looked like seeing it from inside the Tresor all in that red tinge – but they didn’t allow anyone in it, not even the French Prime Minister Valls who was there when we were (or vice versa). Back to earth – Renault flaunted its redesigned new face theme across its entire range of the brand new Megane Variants2, Kadjar, new Koleos, and rather daringly their new pick-up
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The Italians too had very catchy stands. Fiat for instance, shadowed its Riva-yacht-themed 500-Riva5… with a gorgeous new AquaRiva Yacht that is today’s heir to the legendary Riva Aquarama – arguably the most beautiful boat ever designed! Lots
called Alaskan.
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Peugeot were there in full force too with an elegantly contrasting black stage (Renault and Peugeot were right across each other) that blended magnificently with the new and daring dual colour piano-black scheme of the all-new SUV 30083 that was present in force with many examples to savour every possible extra it can have – and those massage seats were quite a Godsend at the end of day-one! Sister-company Citroen, on the other hand, went all pastel and cute colours that are reminiscent of the character they want to give to the all-new C34; and what a cute car this promises to be! Not only looks-wise but also material textures such as the leather-strap inner door-pulls. The aesthetic design builds upon what started with the Cactus and it surely is one that works nicely by being futuristic yet elegant not to seem weird now or eventually. It surely will be a success!
of new Tipo variants were on show too. Next door however was just as stunning, actually more so! The world premier Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta6! What a limited-edition, already-sold-out, stunner! Even
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simply getting in and out of it was an event in itself; you don’t sit in the car, you wear it! And the views of carbon-everywhere-fibre from the driver’s seat feel like… they feel like one of those ‘happyending’ dreams that can get you in trouble with the Mrs. The other Ferrari centre-piece was a car whose predecessor I quite honestly disliked, not technically at least cause it was a masterpiece of 4WD in this sense, but aesthetically to look at, with prancing horse on the bonnet; to me it was like blasphemy inside the Vatican – I’m talking about the FF which I imagine was actually an acronym of: ForF’s-sake! The replacement fixed most design flaws and therefore change name (ha!) to GTC4 Lusso T7. It retains the shooting brake
ruggedness, contrasted by the elegant restyled new Quattroporte and new Levante SUV respectively. The Japs led by the largest marque of them all: Toyota. They showcased the all-new and novel cleverly positioned C-HR8.
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lines, but does so in a much more pleasing way like the legendary Daytona had many moons ago. I still wish it was a little more flowing towards the rear like the other past 4-seater: the 456, which oozed elegance from everywhere. Inside it’s stupendous! The rear seats are so perfectly thought of, that it feels as though you are sitting in front with the same high-centre-console–vs–bucket-seat experience. Yes inside is so wonderful that it makes you forgive any little flaw left outside! Ferrari had other special gems on show that anticipate the celebrations of its 70 years in 2017. They plan 70 special liveries on existing models that are personalised around the theme of famous people. For instance the Steve McQueeninspired California T, the blue Stirling Moss on the F12, the bright metallic green (no, even brighter!) David Piper Racing inspired 488 Spider – presumably chosen so as to open it and show off the red driver seat contrasting the passenger’s black one! Then there was my favourite, a 488 Berlinetta bowing to the legend himself, the Kaiser of Ferrari, the champ of champs, the...ok enough… the much loved and missed, Schumy! Besides the grandeur of her inspirator, the livery and colour scheme on this 488 were, albeit simple touches, extraordinary! Alfa Romeo prominently featured the new Giulia which, although may lack the ultra-novelty look the 159’s headlights and snout had, is surely much nicer live than in pictures for some reason. The interior is simple-elegantly-sporty; because I can’t find a fits-all adjective for it. It is sporty in certain parts, elegant in others but simple all over carrying on the less-is-more style started with the Giulietta. The 4C Spider is then a wonder to behold. I’ve driven the Coupe quite a bit and can only imagine those sensations being amplified by an open roof to savour more the speed and amazing sounds that car does without any scuttle shake cause it’s carbon fibre tub just like the LaFerrari! Refreshed variants of the MiTo and Giulietta dotted the stand too. Jeep (more Italianised by now) and Maserati too had a story to tell at Paris and featured beautiful versions of the iconic Wrangler and Renegade
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Novel up to a certain point because Toyota may be late to the subcompact-crossover craze but are so determined to do it in style and stand out, that they wrote it on the car – literally! For C-HR stands for in typical Japanese reasoning, Coupé–High Rider! Reminds me of the beautiful Mitsubishi FTO I had, and the WT* sensation when I discovered it stood for Fresh Touring Origination; I wonder what they smoke in Japan to come up with these names sometimes. However in this instance Coupé-looking it surely is with those cleverly disguised rear handles, raked roof line and reclined driving position mated to a high-mount ultra futuristic dashboard; as much as it surely is a High Rider with mini-SUV ride-height and proportions. The front is recognisably Toyota nowadays, although the rear has sporty new Honda Civic looks (on a SUV? Wow!) that boldly scream the ultra sporty connotations they want to give the model with that double spoiler effect encompassed by the rear light clusters. Love it! So although late to today’s mini-SUV party (even though they pioneered it decades ago with the Rav4!), Toyota are changing the tune of it with a fresh song and design benchmarks that make several competitor models suddenly feel dated. Inferring on the future, Toyota had an interesting concept on show too called the FCV Plus9 which is a zero emissions car that
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is capable of sharing its hydrogen-generated electricity with other (compatible I guess) cars and the electricity grid itself! Think of it in similar fashion to how a solar panel generates electricity and can feed it to the grid (for which the Government pay you), but instead of solar-derived it is hydrogen-derived, and mobile. Hmm, perhaps the Government will pay to us the license instead then. Toyota also
FEATURE• Paris Motor Show by Kenneth Rizzo Naudi
launched their new racing branding commencing with a new WRC car based on the Yaris to return to rallying after 17 years. Present as well was a prototype racing version of the new C-HR too! They are designing this new branding to umbrella all their forthcoming racing ventures and called it Toyota GAZOO Racing (here we go again! No, I’m not looking up what Gazoo means!) Nissan had a nice stand too but which to be honest I didn’t quite notice much in its entirety since I was lured by one of my favourite things on 4 wheels: officially called the GTR, nostalgically remembered as the Skyline and affectionately nicknamed Godzilla! What a machine! Other known Japanese brands were there discretely such as Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and Infiniti; and to a bolder extent Lexus showing off the gorgeous LC 500h. What caught my eye from the land of the rising sun was a jaw-dropping design that from afar seemed like a 4-door Lamborghini Aventador with quad lambo-doors! Knowing Lamborghini missed their flight to Paris this year, we had to have a closer look at what it actually was. GLM was the brand (boq!) and this was only their second car- the G410. A
the world for who wants to use his Panamera daily. Well if you can afford a ‘conventional’ Panamera you surely can afford what it likes to sip, or gulp, but it feels good that now, one can have the same fun with 462hp and a whopping 700Nm of torque, yet hug the trees without shame since the car only uses a paltry 2.5lt/100Km and even more impressively cause at the end of the day the petrol part of the engine is still a 2.9L V6 bi-turbo; spits out a measly 56g/ Km of CO2! Furthermore the car can do 50Km without using a drop of juice! Remarkable technology! Volkswagen featured a new concept car called the ID12. It’s a super-mini sized car but keys are
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4-seat all-electric supercar with impressive performance and range for the power it gives. It looked simply AMAZING with its Pagani fashioned detailing, and lush spans of white leather contrasting the sleek electric blue lines. We interviewed the CEO of the brand: a kid practically! For more on this however you’ll have to watch Wheelspin TV! On to the Germans starting with the almighty Porsche who presented the new second generation of the Panamera that runs on a cocktail of petrol and electrons. Yep a Porsche hybrid! They’re all taking that route now, yet we were assured by Porsche themselves in a private meeting that although the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid11 had really impressive efficiency and emissions figures, it still performs like a true Porsche should, and therefore makes all the sense in
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small and yet they can open huge doors! It is an electric car in actual fact and although we’ve gotten used to electric concept cars, VW explained that this car signifies a new direction that the brand wants to evolve into a ‘secret’ 13th brand for the already ginormous group! Briefly, this brand will take VW into the urban transport provider market, and plan 30 all-new electric vehicles by 2025 that will be preceded by 17 plug-in hybrids over the next 24 months. It’s a 2016 of anticipation for the VW brand and one to be looked forward to. Back to today’s VW cars however, the stand featured prominently the R-Line version of the new Tiguan SUV13. The
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enhanced muscular rendering of the R-Line features with the sleek elegant lines of the new Tiguan, blended together nicely indeed! Moving onto sister-Audi, lots of focus was on the all-new Q2 that despite its compact SUV proportions offers incredible amounts of space inside and gives a more youthful flavour of fun to both the interior and exterior lines than we are normally used to from the marque. Surely a model to watch out for in Malta! German-adopted Seat featured exclusively the new Ateca SUV14 and entertained everyone with a cool 4D-cinema experience. We look forward to sampling the Ateca on our roads as a Wheelspin long-termer!
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WHEELSPIN• Issue 33: Autumn 2016
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FEATURE• Paris Motor Show by Kenneth Rizzo Naudi
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Mercedes were also strongly present in Paris and paraded their entire new range of plug-in hybrid variants of several of their models that were spearheaded by a new concept called the Generation EQ15. In a nutshell it has the proportions of a shooting brake with
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mind that they specifically position the 2 Series on the sporty side (Active Tourer MPV aside), one can get excited that the production X2 will look very exciting indeed. The rest of the stand was dotted with jaw dropping versions of the 7 Series limo versions among the rest of the line-up. The rear passenger (aka the owner) quarters are simply of a comfort level that is hard to imagine unless planting your behind in one of them and stretching your legs forward after touching a button to fold forward the entire front passenger seat. Their M-range featured an entire area specifically dedicated to it and queening over them all was the pointer to a future official M7! More official than this to be honest is not easy: an M760Li xDrive18! In more detail a V12 under the hood with 600bhp and 4WD! Finished in dark matt gunmetal paint it looked like something
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an SUV ride-height and is totally electric. Mercedes’ electrons are zapping now. Not content with an entirely new range of fresh plugin hybrids exquisitely paraded in runway fashion on their stand at Paris 2016, the EQ is not merely a concept but a brand in itself since it will be the name behind the all-electric Mercedes of the near future. Additionally the Daimler group also launched the allelectric Smart. A pleasant déjà vu for others, but a first time live for me was the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept car16. In pictures 18
worthy of what Bruce Wayne would choose when he hangs the Batman cape and garages the Batmobile! In that case, I’d rather be Alfred who gets to chauffer around in this Beemerbeast!
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you might just look and turn the page, but live it’s a different story! The proportions: limo length with supercar height! Practically half the car is the bonnet and the other half the cockpit and the extremely wide squat rear. All this enveloped in retro-inspired yet futuristic styling that is so exquisite live, that not even after actually seeing it can I replicate with pictures the same awe sensations it gave me enface. Stunning design! BMW too had a major presence in Paris and launched the concept car of what will become the X217: the sporty compact SUV based on the 2 Series range. The concept featured some interestingly daring sporty design queues that one may easily assume they won’t make production. Yet keeping in
There is so much more one can say about these 2 days at the 2016 Paris motor fair, and so much more to see that it is impossible to do so in just 2 days. At the end of it all however one of the most vivid moments I will enjoy remembering is feeling 8 years old all over again. Hidden unsuspiciously in a hall behind the big stands were parking lot stands of old used NICE cars that seemed to be destined for auction. Ex-race-cars, classics of all sorts, American monster trucks,... but what wowed me is seeing in one glance next to each other a Testarossa, next to a Countach, next to a BB512, next to a Daytona, next to a Diablo, next to GT40, next to an F40, next to a… – oh for a moment it was automotive-Disneyland all over again! So that’s le Mondial de l’Automobile 2016 for you, roll on Le Mondial deux-mille-dix-huite!
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WHICH CAR IS BEST? O
ne of the most frequently asked questions I get is: ‘Which car is the best to purchase right now?’ This, some may think, is a simple question to reply to for someone that is constantly driving so many different vehicles every day. I can assure you it isn’t! by Fleur Balzan
SALOON? HATCHBACK?
SUV?
CITYCAR?
OFFROADER?
SPORTS CAR? MPV? CONVERTIBLE?
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FEATURE• Which Car is Best? by Fleur Balzan
It is in fact one question that more likely may be answered with another or more questions. ‘What use do you have of the car?’ What are your requirements? Are you single, have a family with small children, have elderly parents to drive to and from appointments, do you use the car for business and what kind of business may that be? One thing I usually always say when I am asked that question is, ’If possible, always buy new’. Cars are constantly changing not only when it comes to technology that make our lives easier and our drive more comfortable but also when it comes to safety and, even more so, economy. It is only with younger drivers beginning their ‘on the road’ experience that I would suggest that one buys a second hand and even here I would advise that the second hand be: 1. Not too powerful, (remember a fast car is also a weapon) and 2. First registered locally. (Better chance to know its history). No, it is not because I have any commission, as I am so often accused, that
I suggest always going for a new car. I am of the opinion that better a new, smaller and less luxurious car than a luxury vehicle one gets at a third of the price which after a short period can give problems or which one, eventually, can not afford to keep up with its maintenance. Sounds familiar?? Going back to which car may be best for anyone of us, it is important to look at exactly what your lifestyle requires. It is useless choosing a car because we simply like its looks and then have problems with taking the car to work or problems with the car not being appropriate or big enough to carry children. That is unless the car is your second car, your toy! To give an example I once had two 2- door vehicles in the garage and then came the day to take an elderly parent on crutches to and from hospital on a regular basis. Oops, I needed to suddenly change car or else get a third. If you are young and don’t have kids, go for it if you can have a sporty number. The same goes if you have worked for so
many years and can now afford your dream car, aside from your everyday car. If on the other hand it’s a family car you need, there is quite a choice in the B and C Segment and also in the crossover, SUV and MPV segments, not to mention executive vehicles too. Prices vary on all segments and let’s face it, new cars are nowadays much better priced and definitely more economical when it comes to fuel. So what you spend now, you gain later! There are so many different cars in the market and so many brands that nowadays offer a car in every segment and to appeal to every possible client. Usually, there is more than one option for the ‘best’ car for one’s particular lifestyle so it is a matter of going out there and looking out for what appeals to you visually or as a package. Oh, and don’t forget to look out for dealer reputation. Most brands offer good cars nowadays but any brand of car can be involved in an accident and require service or new parts. If that is not available, choose otherwise!
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LAUNCHES
THE NEW RENAULT MEGANE Launched recently at the Kind’s Autosales Showroom in Lija is the New Renault Megane, the 4th generation of this C Segment vehicle from this French Brand. The Renault Megane is a beautiful sporty hatchback with stunning lines and a range of new features and latest technology that rivals higher segment vehicles.
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More about the Megane may be read on the ‘Cars Driven’ pages in this same issue and the car may be viewed at the Renault Showroom in Lija.
THE FORD KUGA INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH The Wheelspin team was present for the media launch of the new Ford Kuga, an event held in late October. The event saw different media traveling from one country to another to experience this vehicle on different roads abroad! The Maltese media was widely welcomed for this event which saw them driving from Zagreb to Vienna to experience different engines of this popular vehicle.
“New Kuga offers cutting-edge new features and technologies that will help drivers stay connected, comfortable, safe and stylish on the road,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The sophisticated redesign has given Kuga a fresh and modern feel, while SYNC 3 enables drivers to communicate with their vehicle and connected devices in seamless ways that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.”
The Ford Kuga is a SUV, sport utility vehicle that is packed with the latest in technology offering a safer and simpler drive.
More about this vehicle and a full test drive will be featured on our TV programme in the coming weeks as well as on the next issue of Wheelspin Magazine.
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EYES ON THE ROAD, FOR SAFER DRIVING B
eing passionate about cars is a pleasure of fulfilment but when one realizes that we live on an island with a population of 356,146 registered vehicles, it proves to be a struggle to retain such passion. Making matters worse is the daily occurrence reporting of yet another road accident; statistically this year we are heading towards an all time high record, not something to boast about. But why the increase in accidents when we moan constantly about traffic congestion? Were do we start? Is it a case of road rage, careless driving or inadequate driving experience? by Pierre Vella
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Quite a long call, but we do have to start somewhere; the first pointed finger would be towards the state of our roads and the inadaptability of a car’s normal behaviour on such terrain. I tend to differ strongly on this argument. Permit me to clarify, I am not stating that our roads are
FEATURE• Eyes On The Road, For Safer Driving by Pierre Vella
superb but considering the size of our island we all know the majority of roads, so in principal we can predetermine the state of the road unless some contractor decides to zip open a road overnight. A sensible driver will gauge the performance of the car on such roads and for sure will try to maximize his travel plans to avoid bad roads. What scope is there that I speed along a road which is either uneven, loose gravel or even worse potholed? Being irresponsible fast spells out disaster. No excuse for being late for an appointment, one has to definitely consider the consequences should an accident occur. Car behaviour can also be attributed to keeping your eyes off the road. Mobile use is one of the major factors towards car accidents, texting whilst driving is just as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol. Why this urgency to reply as if the most important thing in life is replying to a possibly useless message? Yes, useless because if it were important you would stop and call the individual. Being stuck in traffic does not give us the green light to
play around with our mobile. Legally unless not changing gears, both hands should be firmly on the steering wheel. Mobile usage drastically reduces concentration from driving with the unfortunate circumstances of having an accident and worse, it resulting in injuries. One other aspect is adequate driving techniques. It is time that our driving lessons are revamped. Driving around in traffic does not make you a good motorist. How many drivers have ever tested their braking skills? Braking heavily in a safe environment, experiencing the movement of the car, be it dry, loose or wet surface. Could this be another scenario to our increase in accidents? What should I do to avoid a sudden obstacle? Once more these are things which one experiences in real time not knowing how best to negotiate such manoeuvres. We, including myself, have been requesting a racetrack for over a decade. A racetrack could be the perfect scenario with experts on hand to learn these skills
and make us better drivers. It would also give us the opportunity to know the feeling of having a skid in a safe situation. Would this stop me using my mobile? Possibly yes when one discovers the thrill and possible consequence of such experiences. I was fortunate enough on various occasions to do these simulated skids in proper facilities abroad. The first reaction would be fun but then one realizes the seriousness, if this had to be for real. ‘Eyes on the road’ is the current promotion of the Malta Road Safety Council, promoting safer driving on our roads. Keeping your eyes on the road will definitely make us all more attentive and for sure more safe on our roads. If everyone had to do his part we will definitely have safer roads with the possibility of reducing road accidents. If you are passionate about cars, do not let anything or anyone take that away from you. Culture it and make other people know about the love you have for your car. Being responsible makes you a better driver!
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CARS DRIVEN…
L E U F T H E E F U T U R E… OF TH O S L A …B U T S E N T E R P E TH
DRIVIN
YOTA MIR G T H E TO
AI HYDRO
I
n early October, days after our overdose of newest vehicles and newest motoring technologies in Paris, my cameraman Robert and I had the opportunity to fly to London to try out the new Fuel Cell technology vehicle presented by Toyota, the Toyota Mirai. I must say that we had seen the Mirai being presented at past Motor Shows yet nothing beats physically driving a car to actually realise its potential, even more so when the car does not run with a combustion engine. Well, ‘Mirai’ in Japanese means ‘future’ a very appropriate name for such a car. It’s design and style is definitely very futuristic with flowing yet explicit lines that make it stand out at first glance. Soon after landing in London, we were driven to the Toyota TPC headquarters. Here we were met by Richard, who gave us a very interesting presentation about
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the Mirai and the Hydrogen technology Toyota has developed in over 20 years of investments and studies, research that first started with the introduction of hybrid vehicles. I must say that Chemistry was never my forte, having preferred the arts, but never has an explanation on the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen been so simplified in a way that is understood by one and all!
ICLE IN GEN VEH
LO N D O N alzan By Fleur B
TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven by Fleur Balzan
So it was explained to us how the car runs on hydrogen which is measured in kilos. When the hydrogen meets with the oxygen, these produce energy to feed the batteries on board the vehicle with the only ‘emission’ being H2O, meaning water, therefore no emissions at all. The car is filled with hydrogen much like how one fills a car with petrol or diesel. The nozzle is latched to the fuel tank and the system, once it checks there are no leaks, fills the tanks until full. It takes only a few minutes to fill the highly safe tanks situated below the rear seats and a full tank gives a range of about 300 miles, or approximately 480km. Not bad at all! So why isn’t this technology taking over from combustion engines faster than the electric vehicles being introduced by most brands? Nothing but the infrastructure or the lack of it, at present, as well of course, as the cost of the vehicle right now which is on the high side when one compares cars of the same segment and offering the same package of extras. When one drives the Mirai, one actually forgets the kind of fuel the car is running on, as the drive is a very pleasant one, and very similar to drives in cars running on ‘normal’ fuels. Unlike other brands, Toyota has built the Mirai purposely for this new technology. It must have proved to be quite a challenge to build a car that required a certain amount of space for the tanks, batteries and all the equipment needed for the car to run on Hydrogen. The weight reflects this equipment, as the car weighs no less than 1850kg. Although the car cannot be described as light it has very decent torque, it reaches the 100km mark
in 9.6 seconds and it is actually a pleasure to drive, especially on motorways and longer roads we definitely lack at home. Maybe our main concern, due to the lack of the infrastructure, was to make sure that we didn’t forget the range available during our 2 day test drive, since the filling station we could use was just under 50 miles away from the area we were staying at. 50 miles that would translate to more had we to be caught in traffic! We however were very good with our driving, and our consumption, also thanks to our past experience driving an electric. We
therefore had nothing to worry about when in fact we experienced traffic congestion, as bad as what we experience in Malta, (if not worse) before the end of our test drive and the refueling of the vehicle. After having experienced this new fuel cell technology we definitely have to praise Toyota for taking on this challenge and for the initiative to invest in such a clean car. Maybe it has been a long time coming but they have proved that it can be done! And maybe, eventually, we may all be driving cars without the negative effect on our environment. Well done Toyota!
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TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven by Fleur Balzan
llo
bert Vassa
Images: Ro
E N A G E M T L U A N E
R W E N THE !
R E V E S A Y AS SEX One of the cars we have driven recently is the new 4th generation Renault Megane a car that has grown to be one beautiful number. I must say that the appearance of some of the older generations of the Megane left a lot to be desired but this time, Renault have really done one hell of a job to come up with a completely new and very stylish vehicle. Featuring the styling cues first introduced on the Clio, the Captur, the Twingo and the Kadjar, the Megane is a lower hatchback with an eye catching face, stunning muscular side lines, and a design at the back, incorporating the rear lights that is as beautiful as the taut, rounded derriere of a beautiful woman. The interior, like the Kadjar, features high-quality, soft plastics, stylish seats and an attractive dashboard incorporating a portrait digital screen much like a tablet. Thanks to the integrated Renault’s R Link media system, through the screen one can keep track of the fuel consumption and all other car settings including the navigation, and Bluetooth system activated also by one’s voice. Besides all this, through the screen, one may change the atmosphere
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lighting within the vehicle itself that literally can change in a choice of 6 colours depending on one’s particular mood. The model driven was the 1.5 litre Dci producing no less than 110 bhp having a 6 speed manual gearbox. The drive was utterly enjoyable with excellent torque and exceptional grip of the road at all times, also when cornering and when driving at high speeds. The suspension is slightly sporty yet offers a very comfortable ride on practically all the drive modes chosen. The car also offers the latest technology
starting with the TFT screen behind the wheel and features such as traffic sign recognition, blind spot alert, lane departure warning and comes also with an emergency braking system that recognizes if the car is too close to the car in front. All this plus features which increase on the comfort such as climate control, automatic lights and wipers, a rear view camera, sensors and much, much more depending on the model chosen. Definitely one of the most beautiful hatchbacks around right now!!
TEST DRIVES • Cars Driven by Fleur Balzan
W E N E H T N A U G I T VW
S U O I R U X LU Y & S P O RT
Images: Robert Vassallo When VW introduced the Tiguan around the year 2007, it was one of the first compact SUV’s being introduced and it immediately had a very positive impact on the car sales at VW. As the years passed, the Tiguan continued to be one of the most popular crossovers and by 2011 over 700,000 Tiguan’s had been sold worldwide.
the center of the dashboard featuring all infotainment system including navigation and car information system. The same screen allows one to control other security systems within the vehicle such as the parallel park assist including a rear camera and blind spot sensors that practically cover the whole of the vehicle.
emit only 125g/km. With a choice of drive modes, a taut suspension and a slightly weighted yet precise steering wheel, the drive was comfortable and the acceleration excellent offering an extremely pleasurable drive which feels utterly secure at all times and on all roads, including rough and wet roads.
The new generation of the VW Tiguan has remained loyal to the VW German styling. Its looks are attractive though still somewhat conservative, which is positive if one wants a car that will always be current. Changes to the lighting both at the front and at the rear make it very attractive and elegant whilst the interior simply spells out exclusive luxury.
Security systems are numerous, including forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane departure warning and sign recognition to mention but a few. Besides extreme security, the car offers practicality and comfort starting from the comfortable leather seats that may also include a heating system and rear seats that are 40/20/40 allowing for the transportation of longer objects while still having 4 passengers on board. All this in addition to an already spacious boot which offers 520litres of space or 615 litres, since the rear seats may also move forward, or up to 1655 litres when all rear seats are folded down.
Definitely VW have done it again with the Tiguan! We were lucky enough to also see the R-Line version as it was launched in Paris and we cannot wait to drive the hybrid version that, is said, VW is scheduled to launch in 2017.
The car is longer, wider yet lower than its predecessor whilst still offering elevated driving. The change to the size is reflected in the space offered within the vehicle itself, space that has grown to further increase the comfort for both front and rear passengers. As mentioned, the interior is luxurious with a TFT instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, a large touchscreen in
The engine driven was the 2 litre front wheel drive 150bhp Highline edition with a 6 speed manual gearbox, an engine that is also available producing 115bhp. Both
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MORRIS MINOR
TAKE ME TO CHURCH
M
altese people just love classics, classic car shows are part of the events calendar tens of times yearly. Their heads turn in the streets when they see a fine example and then the usual ‘din għallbejgħ xbin?’ (do you want to sell this car mate?). They feature in many adverts and are sought after for a souvenir selfie with it, apart from trying to sneak in, without any permission sometimes, to get to hold the wheel for a while and look cool. by Mark Attard
I have a story with one particular classic brand, Morris Minor. Since the day I had my first ride on one of them, till today, there were only a few days that I had not been in touch with these cars in one of many ways. As a kid I used to be driven around in a two tone split screen Morris manufactured in 1950 something and as a young teenager I was in charge of the orderliness and cleanliness of our family car, which was then a red 1961 Morris Minor 1000. At the legal age of 18, I got my driving licence driving a Minor, so then I had to learn how to pay for fuel and maintenance,
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which was kindly sponsored by dad just before that. Our red 1000 is still with us, unfortunately not a street runner anymore, but since 2001 my focus turned towards the lovely Morris Minor Tourers namely convertibles. My dad’s dream was to own one, but it never materialised, so it became somewhat like my own dream and it has almost materialised three times for me till today. My first convertible is a 1961 series 3 Old English White tourer, which I completely restored by 2004 and I call her Polly. The second, Carrie, was also a series 3 tourer
which I finished in black exterior and red interior. At the moment I am restoring my third, my grandad’s series II, a daily runner for 35 years and it should be back on the road in a few months time, hopefully. In no time these cars have caught the attention of all my friends and kith and kin (funnily enough this constitutes to a good percentage of the Maltese population). So I thought I would do my best to promote the relevance of these wonderful marvels and offer my collection as classic transport for special occasions, starting with my own cousin’s wedding in 2008!
FEATURE• Morris Minor Take Me To Church by Mark Attard
I truly think that this is a great way to enjoy and promote classic car conservation and admiration altogether. Apart from being a part of the world’s heritage, these beauties are still relevant and useful for today too. All you have to do is to keep them in top condition, safe and roadworthy then spread the word around and give your friends and relatives a ride to make their special event a wonderful one, being it a wedding, graduation, holy communion or first day at work in style.
of such collaboration would be; proud owners, happy people literally riding in this unique opportunity and wonderful memories on video and pictures. All of this plus more people wanting to own a classic someday and participate in this scheme.
car owners feel the same way. This not just because they were reliable for many decades and still counting or because of their character and lovely shape and features, but for their ability to make people smile and enjoy the ride in each and every one of them. A piece of our history!
I am really proud of my classic Morris Minors and I am sure that all of the classic
This is somehow already becoming a trend and the unforgettable experience is showing a lot in pictures on social media and online and printed magazines. However, I think it could only reach a wider crowd if the owners of these cars could give more information about the cars and show their willingness to make their cars available for these special events. On the other hand the people making use of these cars should use them with respect and special care and make sure they plan ahead to have ample time to reach their destination. The result
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FUTURE CLASSICS by Ben Glover
I love Malta. I love the climate, the culture, the food and the people (so much so I married into a Maltese family of course). There is another reason my heart is firmly implanted on the island - the cars. Every year I thank the motoring gods for another Mdina Grand prix, the chance to witness people’s pride and joy that, years on, are still alive pounding the tarmac of the historic city. Sunday is my favourite day of the week, not just because it’s a great family day but for the reason the classic cars come out to play on our hallowed streets. From old school Ford Cortinas to the Triumph Stags, the reverb of bumbling exhausts spitting out their noise is music to my ears. But what motoring companions will be future classics? We have had some stunning cars arrive on our shores in the past 10 years and I think now is the time to grab one.
ALFA ROMEO BRERA 2005 Produced between 2005-2010 this Italian beauty has already captured the hearts of a pure petrol head. With it’s Pininfarina styling and the 3.2 litre V6 monster of a power train, the Alfa will certainly still turn heads in 20 years from now. Only 21,786 were created which will give some exclusivity to the price.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R 2014 I couldn’t write this article without paying homage through loyalty to the German giant. My beloved mk3 Golf GTI, twenty
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FEATURE• Future Classics by Ben Glover
three years on, is as reliable as the day it was born in 1993 (I was aged 14 when it came out, just saying). If she has stepped up to the mark all these years then the R will certainly please you. A replacement for the renowned R32 this latest VW had a lot to live up to. Golf enthusiasts cried when the growl of the V6 had been replaced with a four cylinder 2.0 petrol engine, although tears were soon wiped away thanks to its turbo bolted to the main block. With just under 300 BHP on tap and a tasty DSG gearbox, this is already lined up to be a future classic. Just don’t tell any GTI fans.
HONDA CIVIC TYPE R 2006 The Honda. Malta’s first love for many boy racers on the island! Whilst the Civic is the choice of the pensioner in the UK, on our roads the Japanese whip certainly comes in all shapes and spoilers. But bag yourself a 2006-2010 model (with Grand Prix body kit) and you are guaranteed a classic. With its space age digital interior and centrally mounted gear stick it was already ahead of its time. The V-tech engine punching well above its weight at 198 BHP and figure hugging sports seats this gem will not be out of place in twenty years from now.
ŠKODA OCTAVIA VRS 2011 VW’s little cousin to the GTI has all the fun of the hot hatch at a much lower price. When launched back in 1996 (no really) the world waited with baited breath to see if its German owner had pulled it off. And when the VRS arrived the jokes departed. Now in it’s third generation the VRS has even been the choice of many high performance police vehicles in the UK. The best of the bunch came in 2011 with improved handling, a turbocharged 2.0 TFSI engine with 197BHP and 0-60mph in 7 seconds. It wasn’t the prettiest off the line but it is certainly getting better with age. Avoid the ones with blue lights on it.
MASERATI QUATTROPORTE 2004 The fluent in Italian will know translated Quattroporte means ‘four doors’. Not quite as glam. But what is glam is the luxury that comes on four wheels. Launched in 2004 and given new life by then owners Ferrari, you were getting super car performance for not so super car money. Pininfarina was the one who penciled the gorgeous curves of the ‘Quad’ and married to the 4.2 v8 prancing horse up front and steeped in leather and pure class for an interior, you might not want to ever leave the driver’s seat.
CITROËN CACTUS 2015 Citroën have always been known for their quirky interstellar styling and design and I was always a fan of the C4 coupé. The Cactus is no exception. On first looks it has been hard to drink in, I mean who puts Air Bubbles on the outside of a car? And who in their right mind would have the balls to locate the daytime running lights into the bonnet? Citroën. It is not going to break any speed records, the ride isn’t great and the seats don’t even fold down but who can escape this timeless design that, compared to other SUV crossovers certainly is ‘avenir voiture’.
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FEATURE• Future Classics by Ben Glover
JAGUAR F-TYPE 2013 Petrol heads among us will go weak at the knees when they hear the words, ‘E-Type’. The iconic 1960’s two seater roadster can never be replaced but the F-Type is hot on its exhaust pipes. A rival to the Porsche Boxster this 200 MPH beast is almost in supercar territory. The all aluminum body makes light work of the stunning performance with a range of V6 and V8 engines producing between 335-375 BHP. This is certainly a future classic with plenty of grip, grunt and ‘low slung’ looks that won’t look out of place in 2040.
MINI COOPER S 2014 British cars have always been favoured on our rock and the Mini is up there, or down there. This small little practical car has grown up a bit since parent company BMW have taken over with many models as big as a Golf. There has always been one model that has already become a diamond in the rough and stood out from the range. The Mini S is the best of the lot since its re-launch in 2006. A supercharged 1.6 engine which had originally been developed by PSA (Citroen, Peugeot) but don’t let that put you off. With 189 BHP for the right foot to play with, it certainly is the perfect partner for this pocket rocket. I’m certainly looking forward to growing old!
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SPOT INFO
Audi Q2, the Sporty crossover German brand Audi may have already had the SUV market covered with the Q3, Q5 and Q7 but it’s SUV lineup has been expanded further with the introduction of the Audi Q2, a model that is to reach our shores within days. Audi are aiming this new crossover SUV to appeal to a younger generation than the Q3 clientele, people that may not have been in a position to consider driving an Audi vehicle. The entry level will be offered in front wheel drive with the all wheel drive being standard on higher trims. Engines vary from a 1.4 litre turbo to a 2 litre offering 190bhp. Compact yet spacious, elevated driving, luxurious interior, spectacular lines and advanced technology, all in this sporty Crossover by Audi.
Sicily – Get yourself into the winter mood At this time of year the Maltese countryside is looking a little bit like a scorched earth scenario. Just 130 km to the north and only 90 plus minutes away by Virtu Ferries Catamaran and you can enjoy the lush green Sicilian countryside.
Sicily, by our standards, is a vast place where you can drive around from place to place and the only stone structures you come across are the neat rubble walls. November is a beautiful time of the
year to enjoy Sicily. Mass tourism, what little of it there is confined to very specific areas, comes to an abrupt stop – and with that comes the attractive prices. Price of accommodation tumble and the quaint little tratorria of your choice is delighted with your custom. It’s a time for a little countryside or mountain adventure to collect your thoughts or if you like a town experience by all means given the prices. Whatever your choice get yourself into the winter mood just that little bit cooler to make you start thinking of Christmas. Get your taste buds going after a summer of salads and dig into a plate of Pasta alla Norma. A nice hunk of cinghiale washed down with a glass or two of Nero D’Avola and finish off with a classic treat, a Cassata alla Siciliana or Cannoli. Christmas beckons but like all good things you need to work on it, Sicily will work wonders for you – the Virtu Winter Schedule will see to that.
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