COVERstory |
2015 Ferrari 488 GTB
We spend quality time with this hot car in and around Maranello and on track
30
56
2015 Ford F-150
Refined further with aluminium intensive construction
46
38
cover story
30-37 2015 Ferrari 488 GTB
NEXT ISSUE
Oman and regional news
6-17 New cars launched in region: 2015 Infiniti Q70 sedan, Honda Odyssey J, 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection , 2015 Dodge Driving Experience held in UAE, Ramadan offers from Ahlibank and Al Hilal Islamic Banking services, Bank Nizwa, BMW & MINI, Mitsubishi Pajero, Audi, McLaren Sport Series ME prices announced, new car arrivals in the region Bentley GT3-R, Nissan Patrol ‘Black Edition’, Volkswagen Touareg R-Line, new appointments: Luay Al Shurafa [GM], Marco Tronchi [FCA], Service-lane superstars at Dhofar Automotive receive technical awards!
2015 Audi Q7
event
18-19 dodge driving experience in UAE
brandwatch
68
20-27 VW Group to split brands post Piech, Volkswagen unveils new “more contemporary” corporate font, Koreans outclass Japanese in JD Power initial quality ratings, PSA inks deal for Morocco production, Honda looking at S2000 replacement? Kia and Hyundai beginning to feel the pinch, Cadillac XT5 confirmed for 2016, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible leaked, Refreshed Lexus LX images surface in Japan, Ferrari to create new Dino sub brand? FCA stalls Ferrari IPO, Cylinder deactivation also possible in 1.0-litre engines, says Ford, New BMW X1 will be front wheel drive, BMW tops 2015 international engine awards, Luc Donckerwolke to replace Peter Schreyer, Kirk Kerkorian passes, Toyota maintains lead among most valuable car brands, Aston Martin considering hybrids? Shell engine lubes approved by BMW for various applications, New Mitsubishi Pajero being prepared, SsangYong to make Wrangler rival, Hyundai’s smallest new SUV gets a name, Subaru searches for name for its forthcoming 7-seater SUV, BMW Motorrad presents new concept called Path 22, Ducati thriving in India
International news
28-29 classics and hot rods
first drives
70
38-45 2015 Jaguar XE & XE S 46-49 2015 Dodge Charger SRT8 Hellcat 50-55 2015 audi a6 56-61 2015 Ford F-150 pick-up 62-67 2015 Volkswagen Scirocco R
Previews
68-69 Tlexus rcf gt 70 bentley flying spur beluga edition 71 Aston Martin DB9 GT
automan coty 76-79 nominees
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 F1, Moto GP, snippets
Chicane
88 A collector’s world
editor-in-chief Mohammad Al Taie
AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118 Al Harthy Complex Sultanate of Oman Email: automan@alroya.net Website: www.automan.me Editorial office: Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 300, Fax: +968 24652444 Distribution: Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 555, Subscription: Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 650 publisher Hatim Al Taie
hatim@alroya.net
EDITOR & GM Raj Warrior
raj@alroya.net
executive EDITOR Chandan B Mallik chandan@alroya.net contributing EDITOR Anne Kurian annekurian@alroya.net HEAD OF Design Antony Karlo photography Elvis John Ferrao marketing Sayantani Ghosh sayantani@alroya.net circulation books@alroya.net FINANCE & ADMIN Sumy Mol
sumy@alroya.net
Website & IT Mohammed F Draz mohammed.draz@alroya.net Printer Al Anan Printing Press LLC Road No. 4A, Rusail Ind. Est., P.O. Box 10, Postal Code 124, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Tel: +968 24446163 | Fax: +968 24446287 alananprinting.com | alananprinting@gmail.com © 2015 All editorial content of Automan in the magazine and its website is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the management of AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING Automan accepts unsolicited exclusive editorial material, but reserves the right to publish any such material. Once published, the copyright for any such material will vest with AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING
We have reached the mid-point of a rather interesting year. For starters, after four years of continuous improvements to our Automan Car of the Year we managed to get the whole of the industry in Oman in one room to collect the awards, which were handed out in the month of February itself. The institution of the Car of the Year is growing in importance and our edition of the program has evolved into one that the participants and readers have learnt to respect. That is because at the very beginning we laid down a few ground rules that were inviolable. We understood that the parameters of measurement have to be standardised and the best judges were our experienced test editors, both of whom have a couple of decades of test experience. Then we set out that only cars that we’ve driven in that year, released in the market that year would be judged. And all cars we drove would be eligible, completely unconnected to the brand’s ability to spend in the magazine. This model has stood the test of time and confidence. We don’t add cars from a personal wish list and we are happy working within our self given limits. This means that even at the regional level, our Car of the Year program is respected and anticipated. This year has seen one addition in that we have initiated two categories for motorcycles – the Cruiser/Road bike category and the Sports/Supersports bike category covering bikes above 400cc that are closest to either one. This indicates that the motorcycle market is growing despite the restrictions facing it and that we are testing motorcycles at a far more regular basis. Funnily enough we came face to face with Oman’s penchant for giving out meaningless awards this month, when a car brand invited media to witness a car launch only to have two of the tribe ‘awarded’ for their support of the brand. What is the value of a media that can be bought by trinkets and awards? Surprisingly, we were the only media to take offence at the concept, choosing to walk out. Have the rest of the media really gone so venal and corrupted that they don’t see the inherent corruption in this? We hope that this doesn’t signify the death of an independent media in Oman. On our part we can assure you that we will continue to travel the higher path, one where we choose to be unbiased and independent and treating all the cars, brands, people and companies we interact with on an even keel. That’s the only way we know to be true to our readers.
Now, Automan is available in bookshops in the United Arab Emirates too! Get your copy or let us know which outlets you would like to see us in
ME appointments
Ahlibank and Al Hilal Islamic Banking services
news
Oman & region
Ramadan offers galore
Ahlibank and Al Hilal Islamic Banking services, Islamic financing arm of ahlibank have together announced their respective Ramadan Festive Auto Financing promotion programme. The Ramadan Festive Auto Financing Promotion will be valid during the whole month of Ramadan, till Eid and maybe extended to support the promotional campaigns of branded auto retailers. Under the promotion, customers opting for new car financing from the bank will be entitled to discounted rates of just 3.99per cent for a 12 month loan, and 4.49 per cent for loans beyond 12 months and up to seven years without the need of any salary assignment! The interest for longer loans is calculated on reducing principal basis. The USP of the promotion is fast transaction [usually, within an hour approvals] for qualified customers if the application and relevant paperwork is submitted before midnight. In addition to competitive rates and flexible terms, Ahlibank and Al Hilal Islamic Banking Services’ Auto Financing have centralized the whole operation at their HQ in Muscat. Services of sales representatives will also be available at car dealerships participation in the promotion The maximum loan amount available is OMR 50,000 and minimum salary requirement for Omani nationals is OMR300.00 and expats OMR 750.00 per month. The upper age limit to finish the loan payment is 60 for expats. Repayments can be done via salary transfer or postdated cheques and customers need not be account holders of Al Ahli to avail this facility. Early repayment options are also available and the bank has set terms and conditions for this. Meanwhile, financing is also available for up to 2-year-old pre-approved cars, however different rates of profit [interest] will apply. 6
JUL 2015
Luay Al Shurafa, as managing director to lead General Motors operations and strategy management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Shurafa has worked with GM in the Middle East for 17 years and for the past four years, he has served as director of Customer Care and Aftersales for GM Middle East Operations. He has also held several positions within the finance, sales and marketing in the organization.
53-year-old Marco Tronchi is the new CEO and Managing Director of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Middle East Regional Office. Tronchi took the reins of the organization from Jack Rodencal in February 2015. Rodencal, who after serving the region for four years has now moved back to the USA where he will take on a new role within FCA. Tronchi’s joined Fiat Automobiles in 1997 and was appointed as President and Managing Director of FCA Morocco in 2011 prior to his new appointment.
Volkswagen Touareg R-Line
It seems as if the black and white theme is catching up fast within the SUV community in the region. Al Nabooda Automobiles in UAE is offering 10 bespoke limited-edition models of Touareg R-Line models called Carbon Edition. Available in two exterior colours, Pure White or Black, the bespoke models feature a luxurious interior with carbon fibre trim, black nappa leather climate seats with red piping and black alcantara headlining. The SUVs ride on 21in alloys with red brake callipers and come with the R-Line body kit which includes a front and rear bumper with a black diffuser. Al Nabooda Automobiles is the only distributor in the region to sell the Carbon Edition Touareg; the 10 SUVs are available starting from AED262,059 for the duration of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Bank Nizwa offers
Bank Nizwa launched a special campaign called ‘CARnival’, offering customers’ on-thespot approval for auto finance throughout the Holy month of Ramadan. Offering a fixed profit rate of 4.59per cent, the Bank’s Auto Finance product is based on the Shari’a concept of Murabaha and is available with value-added benefits. During Ramadan, the Bank’s hours have been extended well into the evenings from 9.00pm to 11.00pm at most of the branches with special car display opportunities at Al Ghubra and Nizwa branches conveniently located next to major car dealerships. Available to Omanis and residents alike, Bank Nizwa’s Auto Finance solutions provides transparent pricing with no hidden charges or processing fees. Applicants are not required to transfer their salaries and can avail financing of up to OMR 75,000 and a payment period reaching seven years for new vehicles. In addition, the product offers two months deferment on instalments and a free Takaful life insurance, while catering for self-employed customers as well.
Special deals in Oman Mitsubishi Pajero General Automotive Company, the official distributors of Mitsubishi vehicles in Oman, is offering super offer on all 2015MY Mitsubishi models including the Pajero SUV. Facelifted just under a year ago, the 2015 Pajero offer a fresh modernised look together with class-leading on and off-road performance. The attractive offer includes free insurance, service, registration and cash gifts until the offer ends on July 30. In its latest iteration, the 2015 Mitsubishi Pajero gets a revised front grille, redesigned bumper with integrated LED daytime running lamps and is available with 3.5-litre or 3.8-litre MIVEC engines.
Nissan Patrol ‘Black Edition’
Audi
Under the slogan, ‘You deserve extra’, Wattayah Motors campaign gives customers purchasing an Audi before the 24 July 2015 extra features, luxury, and peace of mind with a 6-year service and maintenance plan, 6-year extended warranty and free registration.
Arabian Automobiles, the flagship company of AW Rostamani Group and exclusive dealer for Nissan in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, revealed the all new Nissan Patrol ‘Black Edition’ for the first time last month at the Al Majilis in Mina A’Salam in UAE. The flagship SUV will come in two versions, with one powered by a 320hp or high output 400hp engine. Customers can choose between a black or white exterior while all models in the ‘Black Edition’ range.
BMW & MINI
Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, the BMW Group importer in Oman, has announced its annual summer seasonal offer for BMW and MINI vehicles. The scheme went into effect on June 1 and will run through to July 31, 2015. The programme is designed for hassle-free ownership with a variety of exclusive offers and benefits on every BMW model purchased, including the 4 Series, 5 Series and X Series. all BMW models will be available with the BMW Service Inclusive Plus (BSI) package covering all major servicing costs for the first five years or 100,000kms (whichever comes first). In addition, registration costs in the first year will be covered by the importer. Additional benefits include a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty or 150,000kms (whichever comes first), a 1-year complimentary insurance with cash payments or regular finance options, one year vehicle registration and gift. Likewise, MINI customers will receive a complimentary MINI Service Inclusive XL Package covering major servicing for the first three years or 50,000kms (whichever comes first). In addition, registration costs in the first year will be covered by the importer, ensuring a convenient and hassle-free start to the customers’ MINI ownership. Additional benefits include: 3-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty, a-1 year complimentary insurance with cash payments or regular finance options and gift.
McLaren Sport Series ME prices announced McLaren Automotive has announced pricing for its new Sports Series models across the GCC.The McLaren 570S Coupé, which first shown at the New York International Auto Show in April, is on sale in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, with a base retail price starting from US$201,026. In addition, the 540C Coupé will debut in the GCC at a base retail price of $176,960.
8
JUL 2015
Bentley GT3-R
Bentley’s most performance-focused interpretation of luxury, the GT3-R, is now available in limited supply at Bentley dealerships across the Middle East. Only 42 units of the limited production run of 300 will be available for the Middle East. Inspired by the Continental GT3 race car, the GT3-R blends in proven track and road credentials. Customers can now experience first-hand the Bentley marques return to its racing roots, through a high performance retuned version of the Bentley 4.0-litre twinturbo V8. Developing an astounding 572bhp and 700Nm of torque, together with a 100kg weight reduction and shorter gearing, the GT3-R is the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever. Capable of reaching 96km/h from a standstill in just 3.6secs, the GT3-R is a Grand Tourer with performance that truly echoes Bentley’s impressive racing pedigree. That’s not all. Each buyer of a GT3-R will receive an exclusive gift. The one off package includes a one of kind, limited edition Breitling watch, specifically produced for the GT3-R as well as a limited edition canvas signed by Nigel Ratcliffe, Exterior Designer at Bentley. To witness first hand Bentley’s affinity with the race track, owners will also receive a special VIP hospitality package at up to two Bentley Motorsport races.
10
JUL 2015
2015 Infiniti Q70 regional launch
Infiniti Middle East invited over 400 guests for the dramatic Middle East introduction of its new 2016 Q70 sedan in a film studio located on the outskirts of Dubai. Formerly, known as the Infiniti M in the brand’s line-up, the new arrival under the new naming nomenclature assumes the Q70 badging. On its shoulders, it carries on the responsibility of representing the brand in the midsize luxury performance sedan segment and is being offered in several trims with a choice of V6 or V8 powertrains. The new arrival sports the familiar organic profile of the outgoing model as the platform has been carried forward but it does feature a new design language at both ends. According to Infiniti, the core focus has been to improved the car’s ride comfort for the occupants and also introduce various cutting edge intelligent safety technologies. “We pride ourselves in being able to offer our discerning customers premium vehicles that feature the best in design, performance, safety and technology. The new Infiniti Q70 is a sedan that delivers just that,” said Juergen Schmitz, Managing Director, Infiniti Middle East, at the launch. “The new Q70 further raises the bar in the segment with a host of new improvements that is sure to offer a drive that is both exhilarating and rewarding every time.” Infiniti also produces a long wheel version of the Q70 in China and just to clarify, it is not exported to any market and hence it will not be available in the region. There is also a hybrid version and this too, will not be available in our markets. For the GCC region, the car will be offered in three trims. The entry level will be represented by the Excellence and moving upwards are the Luxury and Sport grades. Infiniti has packaged the cars extremely well with kit and differentiating features both for the exterior and interiors. For example, the Sport variant features a specially designed front bumper that gives an even lower and wider stance. The trapezoidal bumper intake and apron shape inspired from race car splitters give an athletic presence and bold impression. Black painted turn and fog finishers as well as the rear bumper finished in high-gloss black paint. To differentiate between the luxury and sport grade is the S badging in the latter.
JUL 2015
11
12
JUL 2015
The cabin wraps its occupants in luxury amenities, including a long list of standard items that usually are offered as extras by many competitors. Common to both high end models are usage of highquality materials in the cabin such as handcrafted wood accents and custom leather appointments and meticulous craftsmanship. Important controls and switches are so intuitively located that the driver does not have to change driving posture to access them. The car’s instrument panel consists of Fine Vision gauges and a 7in full colour vehicle information display, while the driver and front passenger’s seats are leather and feature 10-way power adjustment, including 2-way lumbar support. Two powertrains are available and the base is the normally-aspirated 3.7-litre V6 engine which offers 329hp at 7,000 rpm and 363Nm of torque and mated to 7-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic function via paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The second option is the 5.6-litre V8 engine that delivers 402 hp at 6,000rpm and 550Nm of torque. According to Infiniti, the new Q70 offers a segment first with Predictive Forward Collision Warning system that anticipates the speed and distance of two vehicles in front to ensure that in the event of an emergency, the vehicle comes to a safe stop. The car also is offered with Around View® Monitor system which shows a birds-eye view of the vehicle in relation to parking lines, creating a 360˚ surround view. This system also includes Moving Object Detection and Backup Collision Intervention which alerts the driver to moving objects around the vehicle when pulling out of a parking space or backing up. Infiniti also offered a brief ride for media after the launch. As luxury flagships go, the rear wheel drive Q70 appears stylish and quite voluptuous but since it uses carryover powertrains, it misses out on the sharpness and refined characteristics of European premium models from say Audi or BMW. Overall, the brief driving impression from the Sports packaged car with V6 engine suggests that the Q70 is cable of standing out with its unique combination of style, performance and technology that makes for a truly enjoyable driving machine.
JUL 2015
13
14
JUL 2015
2015 Honda Odyssey J Launched For the first time in the GCC, Honda Middle East is offering two variants of the Odyssey MPV. Honda’s minivan has been around since 1994 and is marketed worldwide. It is now in its fourth and fifth generation in North America and Japan, respectively. Last month, Honda Middle East introduced the Asian version. Honda executives say the Odyssey J has been introduced keeping in mind the customer preferences of Middle East region. While both MPVs look similar in profile, there are subtle changes. The exterior design of the Japanese version is based on “Solid Streamline” theme. Interestingly, previous editions of the Japan market version were offered with hinged doors and the new version is the first ever Odyssey to feature dual sliding doors for that market. The Odyssey J will be available in two trims – entry level EX, which comes with eight seats, and the top-of-the-range EX-V, which forgoes a middle seat for a more comfortfocused set of captains’ chairs, reducing capacity to seven people. The Odyssey J is slightly smaller than its V6-powered US counterpart. At 4,840mm in length it is 313.6mm shorter, at 1,800mm wide, it is 211.6mm shorter and at1,695mm it is 42mm lower than the V6 variant. Most of the contemporary features are available depending on trim chosen. LED headlamps are offered in EX-V trim while, LED daytime running lights are common to both. Mod cons include touchscreen infotainment and third row air-conditioning. It’s also now bigger than its predecessors and for seven-seater models, premium cradle seats are offered on the second row. The Odyssey J is powered by a 2.4-litre, DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder normally-aspirated engine mated to a Continuous Variable Transmission. The engine offers torque of 225Nm at 4,000rpm and output of 173hp at 6,200 rpm. On the safety front, the model has received 5-star rating from the ASEAN NCAP as well as Australian for superior Adult Occupation Protection and safety performance. Active safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS), Electronic Brake Distributor (EBD) and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Meanwhile, if you were wondering what the “J” is, it does not stand for Japan, but rather “Joy” as it represents “joy for utility” according to Honda. The entry pricing for this MPV is much lower than the US-built V6 Odyssey. This version of the Odyssey should help Honda better tackle the segment’s perennial best seller, Kia’s Grand Carnival and Toyota Innova. Honda also arranged a drive of this new model addition from Dubai to Ras-Al-Khaimah during the regional launch. The car has also been introduced in Oman. JUL 2015
15
Oman preview of 2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection
16
JUL 2015
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has used its bespoke talents to create a highly individualized and limited to 25 units worldwide Phantom-based Limelight Collection. Mechanically, it is a stock version that boasts of one-off bespoke paintwork outside and detailed intricate craftsmanship inside. The very special car was showcased to media and prospects for pre-orders at Al Jenaibi Automobile’s showroom last month in Muscat. The Limelight Collection will be available in both short and longwheel editions and to maintain the car’s exclusivity, each handcrafted car is uniquely numbered. Rolls-Royce has created a special paint
called Gala Blue which it says has been inspired by night and day. The depth of its colour effects has been achieved by the application of multiple individual layers of pigments and clear coats that have been polished to offer that premium mirror finish. Special embroidery with 3D graphics is unique to this creation and so it the diamond shaped twin hand painted and lacquered coach lines. New enhanced rear seating with adjustable head, calf and foot rests has been introduced for the very first time in the Phantom Limelight Collection. However, the piece-deresistance is in the features that adorn
the door pads. The extended his and hers Bespoke rear door panniers offer a range of spaces to keep most personal items such as watches and jewellery items. In normal use, these spaces appear hidden and can be easily accessed by the user. For ladies, an illuminated compartment houses three bespoke fragrance bottles, individually hand-crafted at the home of luxury glassmaking, the Bresle Valley of Upper Normandy, France. They have differentiated stoppers for ease of selection, and integral filters to decant preferred fragrance. Meanwhile, for gentlemen, there’s an exquisitely milled in aluminium and hand-covered in the
finest leather, a bespoke carbon-fibre Z-box which offers a concealed storage space along with room for accessories such as collar stiffeners, cufflinks and tie pins. As expected, there’s application of veneer in the trim which has also been given a specialized treatment and finish for this car’s application. The two-veneer finish of the interior is also first for the Phantom. Piano Seashell has been applied to the door cappings, creating an added dimension of harmony with the interior leather schemes. The effect is to draw the eye to the extended rear door panniers and central
console where, in another first, Smoked Chestnut completes the veneer set-up. The car’s leather scheme is exclusively available in two colour palates: Seashell with Navy Blue contrast leather and Seashell tone-on-tone stitching; and Navy Blue with Seashell contrast leather and Navy tone-on-tone stitching. Both are perfectly complemented by Navy Blue lambswool floor mats. Rolls-Royce have also said that it will even cater to optional personalisation requests for the Stainless steel tread plates if it’s the last word in individuality for patrons of this car! Price is expected to be onwards of OMR300,000.00.
JUL 2015
17
18
JUL 2015
2015 Dodge Driving Experience held in UAE
This year’s Dodge Driving Experience, a three-day event was staged at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The event was specially designed to expose the GCC media, VIP customers and Dodge loyalists including members of the UAE Mopar Club and UAE Dodge Club to the all-new 2016 Dodge Charger and Challenger models. Automan also attended the event. Besides demonstrating the performance and state-of-the-art advanced technologies that are packed into the new arrivals, attendees were exposed to the highly qualified drive team who were responsible for arranging the driving elements on Yas’s North Circuit and VDA (vehicle dynamic area). In this section, the attendees were encouraged to improve their driving skills even further. The line-up of cars available included all variants of the new Charger -3.6-litre Pentastar V6, 5.7-litre V8 HEMI, 6.4-litre 392 SRT8 and the 6.2-litre V8 Supercharged Hellcat, plus the 5.7-litre V8 HEMI powered Challenger R/T. As a bonus, the 8.4-litre V10 Viper was thrown in for aficionados to try out on track. An extra attraction for the second and third days was an original 1968 Charger, loaned for the occasion by Thamer Mohammed Al-Naimi, Director of the UAE Mopar Club. And it wasn’t ust any 1971 Challenger - it was the authentic 01 General Lee that appeared in the “Dukes Of Hazard” movie! Kicking off the event, Marco Tronchi, CEO/ MD Dodge Middle East, outlined the new direction for the Dodge brand, saying “By consolidating with SRT, Dodge is getting back to its performance roots with every single model it offers.” “The consolidated Dodge and SRT brands will offer a complete line-up of performance vehicles that stand out within their own segments. Dodge will be the mainstream performance brand, while SRT will be positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, and together they create a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice.”
JUL 2015
19
Post Piech: VW Group to split brands Following the controversial exit of Volkswagen Group chairman Ferdinand Piech a few weeks ago, it was a matter of time when his ideas and style of management was to be questioned and acted upon. And finally, it has happened. As part of a major restructuring exercise within the organization, Volkswagen Group is planning to decentralize its operations by splitting its 12 brands into four different
holding companies. While the official explanation about the move is believed to be based on the logical consideration of sharing of parts, platforms, and engines between the various brands, VW observers see this move is part of an internal VAG effort to move away from the structure established by Piech. During his tenure, Piech favoured a compact, but highly centralized style of management structure to oversee the independent
actions of the company’s brands. However, criticism of Piech’s arrangement stemmed from the company’s slow responses to changes in the market. As a result of the new direction, Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda which make up a passenger vehicle division will be led by former BMW executive Herbert Diess. Audi, which is tightly intertwined with Lamborghini and Ducati Motorcycles will be managed by current Audi
executive Rupert Stadler. Porsche and Bentley, which are already quite close, will be joined by Bugatti and run by Matthias Mueller. Finally, a commercial vehicles division will include Volkswagen Commercial, Scania, and Man. Former Daimler executive Andreas Renschler will take care of the big vehicles. According to VW, the new structure should make for a more efficient, streamlined company that’s better able to make crucial decisions.
Andreas Renschler
Herbert Diess
Rupert Stadler
Matthias Mueller
Volkswagen Commercial, Scania, and Man
Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda
Audi, Lamborghini and Ducati Motorcycles
Porsche, Bugatti and Bentley
Automan’s Take
Besides getting the product portfolio right, VW also has to look at its human resources side too. In the past few weeks, there’s been a flight of top designers from the organization. High-profile designers like Thomas Ingenlath, Achim Badstübner and Luc Donckerwolke are leaving their long careers within VW Group to join rival manufacturers. There must be serious questions being asked within Wolfsburg about the apparent inability to retain key designers. Meanwhile, Audi has reportedly lost its powertrain development chief, Stefan Knirsch. Knirsch is credited with leading development of Audi’s latest powertrain innovations, including various E-tron hybrids and electrically-driven forced induction.
Volkswagen unveils new “more contemporary” corporate font Volkswagen has unveiled a new font that will be used in corporate branding, websites, brochures and also on its cars. The new typeface is said to be inspired by “its distinctive vehicle design,” and that it’s “more contemporary, less geometric, and features more dynamic contrast” than the outgoing font, which is a customized version of the Bauhaus-inspired Futura. The new typeface is actually two new fonts: Volkswagen Text replaces VW Utopia in the brand’s familiar “Das Auto” tagline. VW Headline, created in 1997 when each VW Group brand was given its own font instead of using VAG Rounded – a common typeface that’s usually found on computer keyboards now becomes VW Head.
20
JUL 2015
news
brandwatch
Kia and Hyundai beginning to feel the pinch
Koreans outclass Japanese in JD Power initial quality ratings According to the latest J.D. Power, the automotive research firm, South Korean automotive brands now lead the industry when measured by the initial quality of their cars sold in the US. The rise of Hyundai and Kia marks a historic shift in the automotive world, said J.D. Power, which conducts an annual survey asking new car buyers about their vehicles after 90 days of ownership. In all, the survey reviewed data from 33 automotive brands. As a group, Japan’s automakers were also surpassed by European brands, while domestic nameplates matched the Japanese for only the second time in the 29 years J.D. Power has published its U.S. initial quality study. But both the Japanese and U.S. automakers were below the industry average. “This is a clear shift in the quality landscape,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. “For so long, Japanese brands have been viewed by many as the gold standard in vehicle quality.” Although the Japanese automakers continue to make quality improvements — as measured by the number of problems owners report per 100 new vehicles — other brands are improving at a faster pace. South Korean brands averaged 90 reported problems per 100 vehicles. The Europeans logged 113 and the Japanese and American brands tied at 114. The industry average was 112. Among individual brands, Porsche ranked the highest for a third consecutive year, posting a score of 80 problems per 100 vehicles. It was followed by Kia with 86, Jaguar with 93, Hyundai with 95 and Infiniti with 97. Rounding out the top 10 were BMW with 99; Chevrolet, 101; Lincoln, 103; and Lexus and Toyota, both 104. Fiat scored the worst with 161 problems per 100 vehicles. Rounding out the bottom five were Smart, 154; Chrysler, 143; Subaru, 142; and Jeep, 141.
Automan’s Take One key aspect automakers have to realize is that if you start out poorly in the initial quality study you usually do poorly in the vehicle dependability study several years later. One major US carmaker that has failed to figure out either study is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Jeep, Chrysler and Fiat scored among the worst five out of the 33 brands surveyed.
Hyundai and Kia experienced bumper sales in the US this year, underscored by Kia’s best sales month ever in May. But globally the situation for the South Korean siblings hasn’t been nearly so encouraging. Recently, the duo reported their fourth consecutive quarter of decreasing operating profits worldwide. As part of the forward business strategy, both are looking at efforts to cut costs. However, the companies aren’t detailing where they would make the cuts or how much they want to save. The amount could be significant, though. An unnamed Hyundai senior executive reportedly told a South Korean newspaper that the business might be aiming for up to 30percent in reductions.
Automan’s Take Both Hyundai and Kia are facing falling total sales worldwide with the exceptions in some markets like India for Hyundai. Making the situation worse is that the strong Korean won versus the weaker Japanese yen gives competitors an advantage. The automakers also angered investors enough last year to prompt a stock buyback after paying $10bn for the land for a future headquarters.
Honda looking at S2000 replacement?
Even since Honda pulled the plug on the S2000 roadster in 2009, rumours of its spiritual successor has been a hot topic amongst aficionados and observers. A new set of patent illustrations suggest that a new S2000 is on the cards. The images suggest a compact mid-engined sports car. The overall styling of the mystery model is similar to that of the Acura NSX, but there are enough changes to suggest this is a different vehicle altogether and not something like an NSX convertible. The car’s apparent mid-engine layout also supports previous report that Honda’s S2000 successor will be mid-engined like the bigger NSX. No technical details were attached to the sketches, but a version of Honda’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is tipped for duty in the next-generation S2000. It’s also believed that Honda is working on a hybrid version that could bump power north of 350hp. Honda’s take on a modern S2000 isn’t expected to hit dealer showrooms until 2017 at the earliest. JUL 2015
21
New BMW X1 will be front wheel drive
Cadillac XT5 confirmed for 2016
The next-gen SRX crossover will appear as early as next year with a new nomenclature. To be sold as the XT5, it will debut early in the 2016 calendar year. “When we transition into all new product lines, we will evolve the naming convention to suit the new classification we have announced. So SRX becomes XT5 next year,” company spokesman David Caldwell said. Earlier spy shots and rumors suggest the XT5 might be offered with a turbocharged four-cylinder and naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines, plus a nine-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entire line-up of 2016 models will get a major infotainment upgrade with improvements to CUE and integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Using either of them requires a connection via USB, and they add a new projection icon on the CUE screen. Once activated, both systems integrate with driver’s phone and incorporate features like navigation, music, and contacts. They can also accept voice commands. Even for those that don’t want to hook up a smartphone, CUE should work better thanks to a more powerful processor. Start-up times for the infotainment system are expected to be faster, and Cadillac claims that it’s also more responsive for voice recognition, navigation searches, and media. The navigation interface is simplified, as well. The Escalade, CTS, and XTS can now be ordered with a 360-degree camera system to display on the screen. The outgoing SRX will not benefit from these upgrades.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible leaked Chevrolet has accidently leaked the images of the forthcoming 2016 Camaro Convertible, following a teaser. While the images were quickly removed from the company’s website, a member of the Camaro6 forums managed to grab a handful of pictures before they were taken down. As a result, we can see the model will follow in the footsteps of the coupe but adopt a retractable soft top and a repositioned antenna. Engine options will carryover from the coupe. The sixth generation Camaro was revealed in midMay and now the company is preparing for a world premiere of its convertible version on June 24. The producer says “the most innovative Camaro Convertible ever will soon reveal all its secrets”, referring to the car’s debut. 22
JUL 2015
Refreshed Lexus LX images surface in Japan
Images of a facelifted Lexus LX 570 have leaked ahead of the SUV’s official August debut. The initial image of a golden LX was published in Japan’s automotive tabloid Best Car Magazine, depicting just the front three-quarters view. Most noticeably, a massive spindle grille replaces the quasi-spindle grille and bisecting bumper bar, bringing the top-of-the-lineup SUV in sync with the rest of the offerings in the luxury marque’s portfolio. Furthermore, formerly wide foglamp coves are now replaced with angular slivers. Headlights, too, are slimmer but a row of LED driving lights remain along the bottom edge in a fishhook shape.
BMW has ripped the covers off its new-generation X1 crossover that becomes the second model in the German car-maker’s line-up to drive the front wheels. On sale in Europe in October, the new X1 will hit BMW showrooms in the fourth quarter, with local specifications to be confirmed closer to the launch date. The new X1 is built on BMW Group’s UKL platform that underpins the latest MINI and the BMW brand’s first front-wheel drive model, the 2 Series Active Tourer. BMW says the second-gen X1 ushers in a new all-wheel drive system, new-generation petrol and diesel engines and transmissions, fuel efficiency gains of up to 17 per cent, a redesigned cabin offering more space, and additional connectivity and other tech features. The new X1 is shorter, wider and taller than the model it replaces, which BMW says has ensured extra space in the interior, despite the wheelbase being 90mm shorter. The exterior design is faithful to the original, but the extra height – evident in the press images – should help differentiate it from the mechanically related 2 Series Active Tourer.
Automan’s Take This represents a change of configuration from the outgoing X1 with its rear- and four-wheel drive platform shared with the larger X3 that in turn was based on the underpinnings of the E90 3 Series.
Ferrari to create new sub brand? Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has all but confirmed that the storied Dino nameplate will be resurrected in the nottoo-distant future. “It’s a when, not an if. We know that [Dino] is an under-used resource, but that’s why we need to get it right,” said Marchionne. Which no official mechanical details have been released, Marchionne did suggest it could be powered by a twin-turbocharged evolution of the V6 engine that is currently being designed to power a long list of upcoming Maserati and Alfa Romeo models. Interestingly, Marchionne has also insisted that the Dino sub brand will not be represented as a budget Ferrari, and he has further stressed that the Prancing Horse will compromise and chase volume like some rivals. If the report turns out to be true, the modern day Dino is at least three or four years away from landing in showrooms.
Automan’s Take
It looks like Dino will live again soon, the heritage-laced nameplate could once again be turned into standalone brand in order to avoid diluting Ferrari’s brand image. While, it’s too early to tell precisely what form the 21st century Dino will take, but The Dino will be configured as a mid-engined model regardless of what’s bolted in the engine bay. It is expected to be noticeably smaller and lighter than the Ferrari 488 GTB.
FCA stalls Ferrari IPO
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has stalled the planned initial public offering of its Ferrari division. The company is waiting until mid-October or later before initiating the selloff, FCA chief executive Sergio Marchionne told The Wall Street Journal, citing “technical reasons” associated with the finalization of the Fiat-Chrysler merger. The executive claims to have been advised by attorneys that a full year must separate the merger, which officially occurred on October 12, 2014, and the Ferrari divestment. Marchionne also dismissed speculation suggesting the company might be delaying the Ferrari plans as it looks to find a partner for a broader merger. Recent reports suggest the merger push may have been associated with product-development delays that are said to affect several models. FCA will sell 10 percent of Ferrari in the IPO, while the other 80-percent stake will be distributed to shareholders. It is unclear if the company is planning to time the IPO for October of this year, or if the sale will be further delayed.
BMW tops 2015 international engine awards The International Engine of the Year Awards for 2015 were announced last month and this year, the winning designs blend high-end performance with advanced technologies that reduce emissions and substantially improve fuel economy. Forced induction motors came first place in several categories, although one naturally aspirated unit collected two awards. Judges also favoured powertrains that made inroads into weight reduction. Continuing a five-year trend,
engines with small displacements (and fewer cylinders – especially the triples!) again proved to be very popular, further highlighting the IC downsizing phenomenon sweeping the industry. Reflecting the rise of powertrain electrification globally, there were more all-electric and plug-in hybrid products for judges to assess than ever before, with key innovations coming from BMW, Tesla, Kia, VW, Audi, MercedesBenz and BYD. One of the most crucial categories is the New Engine
award, representing the greatest development of the past 12 months – and the three winning creations went head to head: the progressive PHEV powertrain in BMW i8; the screaming 4.0-litre biturbo in Mercedes-AMG GT and the heart-thumping turbocharged V8 powerplant in Ferrari California T. As in previous years, The 2015 International Engine of the Year Awards jury was made up of the world’s most respected motoring journalists. In total, there were 65 jury members from 31 countries,
bringing with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of today’s advanced passenger car engines. The International Engine of the Year Awards are presented by Engine Technology International magazine, published by UKIP Media & Events Ltd. The Awards involve the voluntary participation of 65 motoring journalists from 31 countries. UKIP Media & Events Ltd receives no advertising or financial support from any car manufacturer or distributor.
Automan’s Take Since 1999 these awards have grown in stature, with car makers from around the globe competing fiercely to win an accolade. Over the past few years, the International Engine of the Year Awards have become an important marketing tool for the winning OEMs, with the Awards’ logo featuring in media campaigns from the likes of Ford, Fiat, Ferrari, Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and PSA Peugeot Citroën.
JUL 2015
23
Shell engine lubes approved by BMW for various applications
Cylinder deactivation also possible in 1.0-litre engines, says Ford It seems that no engine displacement is too small to benefit from cylinder deactivation for fuel savings. Ford has revealed last month that it has been working on experimental engine management system that it says can shave six per cent from the fuel consumption of its pint-sized 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine by cutting cylinders at certain road speeds. The system – tested in real-world conditions in a Focus – can either cut one cylinder or switch to “rolling deactivation” that effectively halves the engine firing rate. Apart from a revised engine management system to control the firing order, a dual-mass flywheel, pendulum absorber and tuned clutch disc were added to enable cylinder deactivation at a wider range of engine loads and speeds while counteracting any increase in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The Ford experiment at its Aachen research and development centre in Germany was revealed at the Vienna Engine Symposium by Ford global powertrain, research and advanced engineering director Andreas Schamel. “Even for an aggressively downsized engine such as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, a significant improvement in vehicle fuel economy could be found by exploiting cylinder deactivation,” Schamel said. The direct-injected, turbocharged 1.0-litre is only available in Fiesta in Australia where it is credited with a combined fuel economy rating of 4.9 litres per 100km in five-speed manual form and 5.3L/100km with the six-speed auto.
Shell has announced that it has been chosen by BMW AG as its only recommended global supplier for aftermarket engine oils for the following BMW brands: BMW, BMW i, BMW M, MINI and BMW Motorrad. From this year, premium engine oils manufactured by Shell will be available to customers at BMW Group’s network of more than 3,500 dealers, in more than 140 countries, including China, Germany, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, the UK and the USA. Shell says that its products will meet the latest BMW engine specifications and are underpinned by Shell’s PurePlus Technology. Shell PurePlus Technology is a breakthrough in how engine oils are formulated. It is a patented gas-to-liquid (GTL) process, developed over 40 years of research, which converts natural gas into a crystal clear base oil. Base oil, usually made from crude oil, is the main component of finished oils and plays a vital role in the quality of the finished engine oil. The base oil is produced at the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar, a partnership between Shell and Qatar Petroleum. From 2015, BMW service customers benefit from the integration of Shell’s global lubricants supply chain with its gas value chain in Qatar. Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice President for Shell Lubricants, said: “We are honoured to become the BMW Group’s recommended supplier of aftermarket engine oil. We look forward to jointly supplying, distributing and marketing these oils, as of start. “This is recognition of the benefits of Shell’s engine oil expertise and cutting-edge technology by one of the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.”
Aston Martin considering hybrids? Chief executive Andy Palmer has recently argued that the British automaker can deliver its “Power, Beauty and Soul” promise without depending only on petrol engines. “It just needs to be really powerful, really beautiful and set your heart on fire,” the executive said. “I’d argue that 1,000bhp on the ground would probably do that for you. Imagine something like a 4x4, 1,000bhp silent Rapide.” “I see in our future obviously V12s, V8s and probably battery-electric cars. And as time evolves, there’s probably an inevitability to offer hybridized solutions, simply because, car by car, you can only downsize so much. I’d rather put a hybrid in there than an in-line four-cylinder.” Interestingly, Palmer’s predecessor, Ulrich Bez, did not share the same vision for the company. He rejected the idea of combining a hybrid system with internal-combustion engines, arguing that such configurations make vehicles heavier and electronic components are less reliable than mechanical systems. However, there’s common ground as both Bez and Palmer agree that Aston Martin’s iconic V12 engines will remain going forward, alongwith with downsized displacement or more V8 variants. Palmer claims there are no immediate plans to offer a hybrid, suggesting a battery-powered Aston is unlikely to arrive before the end of the decade. 24
JUL 2015
Luc Donckerwolke Last month we reported the news about Luc Donckerwolke, head of Bentley design, had left the VW Group. Donckerwolke had publicly shamed the Lincoln Continental concept as a blatant Bentley Flying Spur knock off. Now, there are rumours that Donckerwolke could be joining Hyundai-Kia as part of a twoyear transition period to replace Peter Schreyer, who is due to retire in 2017. Donckerwolke and Schreyer worked together on the Audi A2 amongst others as their careers in the wider VW empire overlapped considerably. Presumably Schreyer has been instrumental in securing Donckerwolke’s services as his own contract comes to an end in 2017.
Automan’s Take Such a move will be a real coup for the Korean brands which seem to be benefiting tremendously from their design-led growth strategy.
Kirk Kerkorian
Ranked by Forbes as the world’s 41st richest man in 2008 with a net worth of $16bn, Kerkorian was among the most talked-about investors in the American automotive industry. The media-shy investor who became one of the richest Americans by betting his money on ventures like casinos and film studios passed away at the ripe age of 98 in Los Angeles last month. The billionaire ran the investment company Tracinda Corporation and was the largest shareholder in MGM Resorts International. Kerkorian attempted to use his power as a well-financed investor influence in the auto industry. In 2006, he used his nearly 10per cent stake in General Motors to push a merger with the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The deal made it as far as discussions, but eventually fell through. Kerkorian also attempted to purchase Chrysler twice. The first effort came in 1995 with a $22.8bn offer for the automaker, and soon after it failed as the company merged with Daimler. Then in 2007, Kerkorian was back with a bid for $4.5bn. Not contended, the billionaire ended up buying up $1bn in Ford stock in 2008 to make Kerkorian the single largest investor in the company. However, the situation didn’t last long, and by the end of that year, he had unloaded the shares. A a polarizing figure whose was born poor, Kerkorian in early life had several careers as an amateur boxer, a daredevil pilot and a high-stakes poker player before figuring out safer ways to amass his fortune. He pursued strategies that baffled business rivals and Wall Street analysts and that left him sometimes on the verge of bankruptcy. Other times, his moves brought him windfalls.
PSA inks deal for Morocco production
Toyota maintains lead among most valuable car brands Toyota has maintained its lead among the most valuable automotive brands for the third straight year, according to the annual ‘BrandZ’ study released by Millward Brown. The Japanese automaker has an estimated brand value of nearly $29bn, down slightly from 2014 but still ahead of BMW’s $26bn valuation. Mercedes-Benz again holds the third spot. The top of the rankings remain mostly unchanged for 2015, but there are a few shakeups below the Ford and Nissan, which hold the fifth and sixth positions, respectively. Audi achieved the biggest gains in terms of dollar value, rising 43percent to $10bn and stealing the seventh position from sibling brand Volkswagen. Chevrolet and Hyundai are no longer found in the top 10, displaced by Land Rover and Lexus respectively.
Africa and the Middle East are among the PSA’s historic markets, particularly for Peugeot and PSA Group’s regional strategy is now focusing on gradually expanding vehicle production capacity in the heart of the region to serve the interests of the Africa-Middle East markets. Potential production volume is estimated to reach eight million vehicles by 2025. Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën and Moulay Hafid Elalamy, the Kingdom of Morocco’s Minister for Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy signed an agreement to build a manufacturing plant in the country. Once ready, the plant will begin producing B- and C-segment engines and vehicles as from 2019. Starting out with an initial production capacity of 90,000 engines and vehicles, the plant will ultimately raise output to 200,000 units in line with future market demand. Automan’s take This agreement rounds out the existing manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and those being negotiated in Iran, and allows PSA to lay the foundations today for its ambition of selling one million vehicles in the Africa-Middle East region by 2025. JUL 2015
25
New Mitsubishi Pajero being prepared Apparently, the next Mitsubishi Pajero (aka Montero in North America, Shogun in the UK) will continue to revel in its true body-on-frame construction as the company positions itself as a company with SUVs as one of its core businesses. This information comes from Lance Bradley, head of Mitsubishi Motors UK. Mitsubishi strongly believes that true body-on-frame SUVs are a dying breed and that there is an opening for the company which has won the backbreaking Dakar Rally 12 times with previous iterations of the Pajero. In fact, the company intends to position the new Pajero as an affordable but equally capable alternative to the Land Rover Discovery. Bradley also fired a shot across the bows of other automakers -- most of whom have shifted from SUVs to car-based crossovers while keeping the former’s rugged names -- saying, “A lot of the rivals are more beautiful or more refined but the Shogun needs to be an authentic off-roader: not fancy, not a school-run car but for people who tow horse boxes or actually go off-road.” Furthermore, Mitsubishi believes that the Pajero will have another edge with its plug-in hybrid technology, as previewed by the GC-PHEV Concept shown in Tokyo and Chicago. With the next Evo said to be taking the form an SUV, it appears Mitsubishi is gunning for the electric and off-roading segments. The new Pajero is due out in 2017.
Subaru searches for name for its forthcoming 7-seater SUV A recent Subaru owner’s survey revealed that the company is considering a 7-seater crossover for the US market. In the survey, Subaru asks, “In thinking about the Subaru brand and the possibility of a seven passenger vehicle being offered in the future, please rate how well you like these names for the new vehicle?” The survey further invites a rating from 1-10 from a list of potential names: Centauri, Cypress, Ascent, Meridian, Sojourn, and Columbia. The car in question is likely a version of the recently launched Japan-market Crossover 7, based on a concept from the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. That vehicle itself was based on a three-row Exiga wagon that’s been on sale since 2008. The Crossover 7 is powered by Subaru’s 2.5-liter boxer four mated with a continuously variable transmission. The company has hinted as early as 2013 that there’d be a three-row crossover launching as a 2016 model. Subaru has not had a three-row, 7-seat vehicle in its lineup since the B9 Tribeca ended production in January 2014.
SsangYong to make Wrangler rival South Korea’s Ssangyong Motors isn’t shy about admitting it has been eyeing an entry into the lucrative North American market for several years. An early feasibility study is currently under way, and a spokesperson recently confirmed the company could develop a Jeep Wrangler-fighting SUV to spearhead its foray into the United States. The yet-unnamed off-roader will ride on the same unibody platform as the Tivoli that was introduced last March at the Geneva Motor Show but the two will not look anything alike. Ssangyong is expected to put a big emphasis on design and give the SUV a rugged look with a few retro-inspired styling cues such as round headlamps. In Europe and in Korea, buyers will get to choose between a gasoline normally-aspirated and forced-fed 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines. Diesels will also be offered. If all goes as planned, the new SUV will arrive in showrooms in 2017 or 2018.
Automan’s Take
SsangYong’s proposed SUV will live up to the Herculean task of taking on Jeep’s most iconic and capable model thanks to a purpose-designed four-wheel drive system and high departure and approach angles. It may be recalled that Ssangyong in the past had SUV called Korando in mid-1990s which was relatively popular, especially considering it was sold well before SUVs and crossovers became hot sellers in Europe. 26
JUL 2015
New Concept from BMW Motorrad BMW Motorrad has introduced a new concept called Path 22. Named after one of Europe’s best-hidden surf spots, the Path 22 is BMW Motorrad’s first-ever scrambler, a type of bike designed to go off the beaten path. The Path 22 is based on the R nineT, a highly-customizable roadster. It features a protective grille on the front light, a long-travel suspension, studded tires wrapped around machined alloy wheels and raised exhaust pipes. Scramblers have always stood out as function-oriented, minimalist bikes, and the Path 22 reflects that with turn signals neatly integrated into the handles. Since the Path 22 was designed to go surfing, BMW has installed a custom-designed surfboard holder on the right side of the bike. Crafted out of machined aluminium and leather, it can adapted to hold two surfboards regardless of whether they’re short- or longboards. Artwork by Ornamental Conifer adds a finishing touch to the concept. BMW has not released technical details, but it’s safe to assume the Path 22 packs a R nineT-sourced 1.2-litre air-cooled flattwin engine rated at 110 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 88 lbft. of torque at 6,000 rpm. The twin is bolted to a six-speed transmission.
Ducati Thriving in India Ducati India held its first official event in New Delhi at the largest Ducati Store in the world last month. The iconic Italian motorcycle brand announced the arrival of two new variants of the Scrambler. Ducati India Pvt. Ltd is the youngest of 11 official subsidiaries owned worldwide by Ducati and since opening its first dealerships in Delhi NCR and Mumbai, has received a tremendous response from the motorcycling community. Their wide range of motorcycles appeal to many different types of enthusiast, such as the latest edition to the Monster family: the Monster 821, alongside the Monster S2R and 795. Ducati India also presented the Hypermotard and Hyperstrada, all models of the Diavel family and the 899, 1299, 1299 S and Panigale R besides the new scrambler variants. Pierfrancesco Scalzo, General Manager of Ducati Asia spoke about the brand’s history, its Italian heritage and current range, while Ducati India Pvt. Ltd Managing Director Ravi Avalur presented plans for India’s network. A new dealership in Bangalore will also be opened in October 2015 followed by outlets in Pune and Hyderabad.
Hyundai’s smallest new SUV gets a name Hyundai Motor India has announced the name of its new SUV: ‘CRETA’. The global roll-out of this new model will start in the second half of 2015 in India, followed soon after with sales in world markets.The compact model will rival Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Mahindra Scorpio and others in the league, the Hyundai Creta will share its engines with the Verna. Although, there is no official confirmation about the engine options either, considering what is offered in the segment, it could be offered with 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol and diesel powertrains from the current Accent/Verna. The Creta will be based on the i20’s platform and will benefit in its design inspiration from the Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy. JUL 2015
27
Spotlight news
Classic beauties and hotrods
T
his is a place where classic beauties, hotrods and extreme machines mingle together in the midst of pageantry and themed with typical Victorian splendor. Despite a cloudy start, the sun came out for the 2015 Hot Rod and Custom Drive-In Day at Beaulieu, held on Father’s Day in southern UK. Over 450 custom, hot rod and classic American cars and bikes cruised into the grounds of the National Motor Museum to take part in the colourful and diverse display, which was enjoyed by 6,500 visitors. With live music, dancing and stands selling vintage wares, all capturing the spirit of the custom world, it proved to be a vibrant event. Variety brought plenty of spice to the show, held in association with 28
JUL 2015
Beaulieu is an award winning attraction set in the heart of the New Forest National Park in Great Britian. We visit this idyllic venue which promises something for everyone including automotive fans. We bring this feature as an Automan special Words: Chandan B Mallik American car club Solent Renegades, as stripped-down hot rods parked alongside ‘slammed’ American classics and pristine custom cars. Visitors were engrossed with immaculate custom paint finishes, highly polished engine bays and even the distressed rat rod look, there were plenty of unique cars on show this year. Bike fans were spoilt by a multitude of two-wheeled machines, ranging from beautifully crafted custom bicycles, courtesy of club Crank Jesters, all the way up to custom trikes powered by V8 engines. Visitors were kept rocking and rolling to live music throughout the day. On the Entertainment Stage, the Dotty Duo performed vintage songs from the 1940s
and ‘50s, while Carmen Ghia and the Hot Rods revved up the crowds with classic rock and roll. Touring the show ground was Mexican band Mariachi El Mexicano, serenading visitors with lively Latin tunes. No-one could miss the awesome display put on by Russ Carpenter and his famous Glacier Grenade dragster. Carpenter started up the Daimler V8 engine of this brutal quarter-mile monster, astonishing visitors with its roar and ‘cackle’, while Brian Taylor talked visitors through the fascinating Allard dragster, which normally resides in the National Motor Museum. Solent Renegades put on an excellent display of club members’ cars, ranging from ever-popular Chevy Day Vans and
Ford Mustangs, to rarities such as a 1967 Plymouth Satellite Sport Wagon with its eye catching wood effect trim. Elsewhere in the show, the lowered bare metal bodywork and race-tuned V8 engine of a 1931 Ford Model A drew a sizeable crowd. Contrasting nicely with this was a pristine mint green and cream 1930 Model A hot rod, powered by a 354 Hemi V8. Other highlights from the rows of remarkable machines was a weatherworn Chevrolet 3100 truck, which oozed original patina, and a 1957 Plymouth Sports Suburban estate which is the only two-door example in the UK. The classic American ‘woodie’ was represented by a timber-bodied 1925 Ford Model T Beach Wagon, while a 1946 Ford Long Door Super Coupe Deluxe street rod hid its powerful V8 engine beneath stock-looking bodywork. Among the American cars on show were numerous modified British classics,
including a Ford 100E Popular body mounted onto an air-cooled Volkswagen chassis, and a 1960 Vauxhall Victor F-Type equipped with a tuned 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine. New for 2015, non-custom classics and VWs were invited to park in their own paddocks within the showground. A real crowd-pleaser was a futuristic Jetsons-style roadster based on BMW Z3 underpinnings. Named Cosmotron and equipped with unique fibreglass bodywork and an aircraft style dome for the roof and windows, its owner had spent two years building this unique machine. Throughout the day, visitors voted for their favourite machines on show in the People’s Choice Award. Tony Bevan’s 1936 Buick Straight Eight, Paul Privett’s 1971 Cadillac Coupe de Ville and Tim Day’s 1986 Chevrolet Camaro 228 were all runners up, with Mick Wakeford winning the People’s Choice Award with his pristine 1932 Ford
roadster. This was the first outing that Mick had taken the car on, following two years building it from scratch. Further awards were given for other stars of the show. The Best Hot Rod went to Chris Andrews for his Ford Model T ‘Bucket’, with Dave Day taking Best Custom for his subtle yet impressive 1952 Chevrolet pick-up, while Best American was awarded to Terry Jeeves for his 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Series 62. One of the heroes of the show was Best Bike award winner Nick Wallwork, with his astonishing Bourget’s Bike Works custom motorcycle. Nick had bought this American machine, equipped with a 2-litre engine and a huge rear wheel, only the day before the show. The coveted Best In Show award went to Neil Jewell for his Ford Popular, which is powered by a tuned Rover V8 engine. The Hot Rod and Custom Drive-In Day is set to return for next year’s Father’s Day, on June 19, 2016. JUL 2015
29
2015 Ferrari 488GTB
Stallion on Steroids
The successor to the 458 Italia takes everything that we’ve come to love in the breed and makes it more intense. Ferrari’s V8 is now way ahead of the pack. Automan reports from Maranello. Author: Raj Warrior
30
JUL 2015
Photographs: Supplied
JUL 2015
31
32
JUL 2015
A
fter last year’s introduction of the turbo in the California T, it was only a matter of time before the sands of time and the need to improve efficiency reached the bad boy of the breed. The Italia typified the V8-powered gentleman’s sports car that could be cruised down a boulevard and then jump straight onto the track for a healthy few laps around it. Never as raw as the competition from Lamborghini, the Italia was in many ways an almost perfect package, which is why its replacement has to tick so many boxes. We were among select media flown into Maranello in a world first for the brand. We were to test the new car on the highway and on the track BEFORE it was released to customers. This, in itself, is a good indication of the changes that are being wrought at the prancing horse brand with the advent of Marchionne’s style of functioning. That and the sure knowledge that we are going to see more models and greater volumes coming out of Maranello. The first introduction to the car was through a technical briefing by teams from the design, dynamics, engine, aerodynamics and product teams. Thoroughly focussed on the technical details of the new development, the session served to highlight some salient features. For instance, aerodynamics dwelt on the underbody features like the large rear assembly with adjustable dampers that are linked to the chassis dynamics. It allows the car to maximise down force in hard handling situations and minimise drag in other circumstances. The same sort of aim drives the styling of the unique front split assembly as well as rear spoiler. Both of these come from specific track focussed Ferrari models like the Speciale. Of course a large amount of the body styling is dictated by the need to make the car look as aggressive as possible, complete with the cockpit form of the cabin. But even here, airflow has been maximised, with the two large engine air intakes dictating the shape of the sides. An additional gem of information was that the door handles had been formed in their particular form to improve air intake by 8%. The single biggest change is of course in the engine itself. The output has gone up to 670 HP while the engine now shares the V8 block from the California T. Of course a lot of change in the finer aspects means that this is one fascinating package. It gets a power boost of 100HP over the outgoing V8, while delivering a completely different and boosted torque curve. The provision of two twin scroll turbochargers now means that maximum torque is delivered on a rather flat torque band at 3,000 rpm. Measure this against a backdrop of the Ferrari high revving nature of the engine that peaks out at 8,000rpm. This is what the engineers have to contend with as they tell us about the controlled torque delivery that is linked to the gear position, allowing the largest spread of torque coming in for the seventh gear. This feature has a secondary benefit of keeping the car in seventh gear in normal highway driving, including giving torque for casual overtaking without having to drop gears. No discussion of the engine can be complete without being repeatedly informed of the benefits of the equal length intake pipes and exhaust pipes, both in terms of engine efficiency as well as the ability to sound like a naturally aspirated engine. This has necessitated a new process of casting and welding the pipe assembly to generate these pathways. The turbochargers have also been upgraded from the California’s. The impellers are made from a new titanium aluminium alloy that reduces the inertia of spooling up. The turbo geometry also uses twin scroll layout. This means that turbo lag is reduced while splitting air delivery uniformly JUL 2015
33
between the intake head. Direct injection is at 200 bar pressure and the engine displays the usual Ferrari flat plane crank and 90 degree layout. In engineer’s terms – nothing could be sweeter! Even the profile of the engine has changed despite the angle staying 90 degree. The new layout is squatter and slightly wider than before with larger radiators and the presence of the intercoolers. More air is channelled onto the radiators and the large intakes on the sides are needed for the intercoolers. Of course the torque is the biggest talking point of the engine. A comparison of response times shows that the relative response is almost on par with the 458 while after that point power delivery betters it all through. That’s how it manages a 0-100kph sprint of 3.0 seconds flat while hitting 200kph in 8.3 seconds. New materials have also been used on the brakes. This has reduced the size and weight of the brakes needed for the improved performance of the 488. In terms of dynamics the biggest improvement has been in the introduction of a new generation of side slip control (SSC2) along with better performance envelope in each mode of the manetinno. The next day we took the cars out for a longish drive around the general area of Modena. The drive included a lot of small country lanes, twisting hill roads and open highway. The routes were 34
JUL 2015
set out on the navigation and we had a free hand to choose the paths to take, although it took a bit of fiddling and a shout out for help to get the system over to English from Italian. For the part of the ownership experience that most customers will use almost exclusively, the car is beautifully set up for the day to day drive. Leave it in Sport mode (the default in the 488) and you get all the healthy response of the twin turbo engine with a nicely forgiving suspension. It soaks up the rumble strip characteristics of a
The all-new 2015 488 GTB is a nice combination of blindingly fast and utterly benign sports car secondary road while being reasonably stiff around the corners. As you floor the accelerator and let the car rip you get oodles of push in the small of your back, with a throaty roar that you love to hear. Of course driving a Ferrari also means getting used to the preponderance of the rev meter at the centre of the dial, turn indicators at your thumbs and a completely driver centric view of things. It takes a couple of seconds to acclimatise oneself but after that you begin to wonder why every car
wasn’t so logically laid out? In the 488 a small panel has been added on for the passenger to read, although we have no idea why they bothered. As for leather seats, perfectly designed steering wheel, and a 16-channel, 12-speaker, JBL audio system, with high resolution navigation screen, we won’t dwell on that. By now, we don’t expect any less from the hallowed Maranello marque. What we do like is that the seats are just firm enough and you can choose the information shown to you on the IP. This changes too depending on the manetinno setting you choose. Verdict We simply love what Ferrari has done with its newest addition to the V8 family. There does seem to be a significant amount of incremental technology in the car, making it more evolution than revolution, but then you don’t really need a revolution in the car. As it is, the engineers did spend a lot of time telling us about how close to naturally aspirated the car was, but you still can feel the turbo in the powerpack. But that’s not a negative at all. We feel that Ferrari has finally made the huge leap into accepting the boosted output engine and the result is outstanding. In terms of refinement the car has leaped to the head of the pack, actually bettering both Lamborghini and McLaren in their offerings. It will take some doing to better this.
JUL 2015
35
36
JUL 2015
The biggest thrill of the entire visit, combining as it did a factory visit with visits to their classic car department, their XX and old F1 car garages and a visit to the museum was definitely the opportunity to drive the 488GTB on the Fiorano track. This track is acknowledged as the brand’s homeground, used through generations of F1 cars for development and testing. Each journalist was taken out by an expert instructor to familiarise themselves with the track layout, though one must admit that we focussed on getting a video interview as we took the laps. That meant that when we went out, a few surprises were in store. Interestingly, a team from Med-Ex HPL were on hand with some fascinating equipment. They are the medical partners of Ferrari and provided us with a sensor that measured various parameters including heart rate, respiration, G-forces and posture. From these data points the company is able to extrapolate through software the emotional state that a driver is in at various points of the course. We had forgotten about the strap on the chest by the time we went out but it was to reveal a lot. As we took the first lap, the car in Race mode asked to be let loose. It is in the nature of the beast that every added Nm of torque that spools in asks you to press down further. And the harmonics are so beautifully judged. It’s like the car a Valkyrie singing out while you are along for the ride. The first right turn is followed by a couple of quick left-rights and then you take a sharp left to start climbing the bridge. Of course as we hadn’t paid attention we took the opportunity to start accelerating hard, not noticing the 100m and 50m brake markers that sit next to the railings. So we took the bridge in full acceleration mode, getting well above the recommended speed for the section. As we crested the truth slapped us in the face – a sharp right turn just after the bridge, with a rolling embankment ahead! You have two options at that stage – panic or PANIC! We don’t know which button we hit as we flipped the paddles down , braking hard and steering sharply into the turn. We’re sure that the doctors will find some interesting tell tale signs about our emotional situation from the read outs, while we’re also glad that they couldn’t see the reactions! If there was ever need of the SSC2 to perform this was it and it passed with flying colours. Rookie mistake turned into jubilant test driver mode, with perfectly tailored skid, spinning wheels, throaty engine roar and the most easy holding of race line that we’ve ever encountered in a sports car. Alright, so you want to have some fun do you? Game on. The 488 could have been telling us that as we now increased our aggression. We had been intimated that the 600 metre home straight would allow us to go all the way to 7th and hit 260kph. Well, it does! The tyres are noisy, the brakes squeal at times but there is absolutely nothing that takes away from the performance. Steering feel could have been just a wee bit harder, but the road feel is spot on. You can feel the track through the column, perfectly judge a corner and even handle the sharply tightening ones without ever taking you hands off the wheel. And weight transfer is handled so nicely, between the magnetic suspension controllers and selective braking. CT Off allows you to really enjoy the SSC2 to the maximum though from past experiences we didn’t take it into ESC Off mode. Even now, a few weeks after the experience, we still dream of the corners on the Fiorano track. It’s the perfect accompaniment to the dreams of a 488GTB.
JUL 2015
37
2015 Jaguar XE
Sporting
ambitions After its elaborate global unveil in September last year, Jaguar’s 2015 XE sedan is ready for action. Automan attended the first drive global event in picturesque Navarra in Spain last month and returned with more than a reason to be impressed Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: David Shepherd and Author
38
JUL 2015
JUL 2015
39
I
t’s no secret that under Ford ownership the X-Type Jaguar was created as the entry level model to challenge the Germans brands, especially BMW 3 Series when it was introduced in 2002. The then X-Type was built on an existing Ford CD132 platform which also supported the frontwheel drive Mondeo. The car’s interiors were benchmarked against the VW Passat and on the mechanical side all-wheel drive and V6 petrol/diesel engines were also offered. The price point was what made it attractive for buyers looking to make an entry with the brand, but to Jaguar purists it was a sort of no-no. After all, it was conceived with aging Ford bin parts and came at a time when Audi presented a similar concept called the A4. The Audi was packaged superbly and presented with Quattro handling as its key USP. In a way, this approach by Audi overshadowed the Ford-Jaguar effort and the X-Type could never reach the boundaries of the rear-wheel drive machines like the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. A lot of lessons were there for Jaguar to learn from. The X-Type was retired in 2009 shortly after Jaguar Land Rover’s [JLR] ownership was transferred to India-based Tata Motors from Ford’s Premier Automobile Group [PAG] umbrella. Under the tutelage 40
JUL 2015
of Tata Motors, JLR is flourishing and one of the reasons is that it can take decisions of its own without interference from its parent company and move forward with its business plans [unlike its association with Ford, where the Blue Oval had a say in everything of what JLR did]. In the new scenario with Tata Motors, a slew of new global products have been introduced and accordingJaguar’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark who reiterated the company’s motivation at the London launch of the XE: “Jaguar Land Rover’s aspiration is to be the fourth premium car company in the world. To do that, Jaguar needs to pull its weight in the right areas. We need to multiply volumes over the next few years.” This means right products at the right time with appropriate content and packaging. And this also means bigger investments in all directions to make that happen. We’ve witnessed the resurging British brand with its new offerings like the XJ, F-Type and soon-to-arrive Gen II XF. To begin the new innings with the XE, Jaguar has invested a great deal of its efforts for a 100 per cent ground up [codename X760] project. No more borrowed chassis, no more sharing of sheetmetal components, but a clear cut transition into modern standalone territory with using state-of-
the-art aluminium intensivemonocoque as the underpinnings and loaded with contemporary technologies. Meanwhile, Jaguar’s involvement with aluminium in cars can be traced to the 2003 XJ. During the London unveil, Ian Callum who designed the XE’s exterior said that more than 70 per cent of the car uses aluminium with the exception of the cargo bay floor and suspension subframes which are made of steel. These steel elements are bonded in place with special adhesives that help prevent catastrophic electrolytic corrosion. In fact, the new XE is the first built to be on Jaguar Land Rover’s iQ modular platform. The same platform will also be used for the second generation XF, the F-Pace SUV and the forthcoming new yet unnamed Range Rover which will be positioned between the Evoque and the Sport. The product variants suggest the engineering flexibility and complexities. In profile, even as an entry level model, Callum has given the car hints of family design DNA. As a result, it feels part of the family and also gets a standalone personality and in some ways appears very close to the next model up in the lineup, the XF. And there’s some interesting functional attributes too. The XE’s drag coefficient of Cd0.26 is a favourable number
in the class and for this car. Even the base models feature additional drag reduction measures, such as air vents which open and close when needed to further reduce drag. The car’s interior reflects some bin parts usage -- parts of the dashboard and steering wheel from the F-type are familiar kit and in its design, a wraparound approach has been adopted. This means, despite being a spacious car, it can appear a bit claustrophobic and adding to that sense is the sloping roofline which means rear head room is compromised for tall occupants. While there’s no shortage of leg room up front or at the rear, the car can take five people, but we think for four it will be more comfortable. Modern highlights in the cabin include the multimedia and infotainment system, where most functions are operated the new eight-inch touchscreen that offers clear graphics. The ability to control phone apps is among key usable highlights besides driver aids such as self parking, standard automatic city braking and the ability to communicate cross traffic hazards. For the driver there’s a low seating position behind a chunky three-spoke wheel with two deeply recessed major dials on the dashboard and air vents
mounted low down on either side. Drive is selected by Jaguar’s now-familiar retractable circular dial on the centre console. Having the key structure of the car in aluminium offers several distinctive advantages. First an array of powertrains can be shoehorned ranging fromfourcylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol to
The XE is the first of a new generation of Jaguar motorcars to use an advanced aluminium chassis system in which Jaguar Land Rover has invested £1.5bn and which was pioneered in the prototype C-X17 concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2013
3.0-litre turbo V6 besides diesels. The car will be initially offered with the XE petrol engines that still have some Ford legacy and will serve the line-up till Jaguar’s all-new in-house developed Ingenium engines replace them in 2016. Depending on markets both either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations and manual and ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmissions will be offered.Six-speed ZF manual gearbox is available on diesel models. A couple of advanced technologies that feature in the XE like the traction control system [Jaguar calls it All Surface Progress Control] has been developed from Land Rover’s highly capable Terrain Response system. Jaguar thinks their system is superior as it allows for better traction in snow and ice, conditions traditionally regarded as challenging for rear-wheel drive cars. To give the car its sporty handling characteristics, the suspension package uses a tried and tested technically advanced multi-link independent rear and wishbone front suspension from the F-Type. Jaguar says this system is a more costly combination to manufacture but allows for greater tuning to provide a good balance between handling and ride quality. And taking the weight JUL 2015
41
optimisation programme further, the car is endowed with single-piston brakes with swinging arm calipers on all variants. Driving impressions Our first acquaintance with the production model took place immediately after we landed Vittori airport in Spain. The twoday drive event in the country was divided between the variants – base and top-ofthe-line and choice of petrol or diesel. This meant we had the opportunity to test an XE with Wolverhampton, UK-built 2.0-litre diesel delivering 161bhp or 177bhp, a Valencia, Spain-built, Ford-sourced 2.0-litre turbo petrol delivering 197bhp or 236bhp, and a Bridgend, UK-built 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol with 325bhp on tap. The V6 was made available only for the track exercises. Since our markets will be fed with the 2.0-litre petrol and V6 engines, hence we decided to spend most of the drive with these two variants. We drove right from the terminal in an XE with a “25t” badge, which meant it had the 237hp/339Nm of torque and rear-wheel-drive. In theory, it’s the same motor found in the Range Rover Evoque, except that it feels more potent in the smaller XE, evident in the first few kilometers of the drive. As a trained and seasoned player, performance of this powertrain appears smooth and discreetly powerful. There’s great initial torque available at low speeds, followed by a gradual increase in power. The car has enough grunt available for quick overtaking at highway speeds. And despite it being small, it feels like it just the engine this car ever needs. The ZF-sourced eight speed transmission has its role well cut out here. It offers extremely smooth 42
JUL 2015
shifts but at times we felt the software makes it hesitate a little too long to select a lower gear when demanded by the throttle, and then may choose a lower ratio than expected with a resultant increase in noise from high engine revs. The car’s electric steering weighs nice and the feedback is quite fast and direct. In the cars we were able to drive, we noted the variety of suspension settings available. Depending on trim, there’s a selection of conventional damping systems to a firmer sport set-up, and there’s also the option of adaptive damping in higher spec models. What we experienced irrespective of the variant driven was that even in the standard set-up, the suspension works extremely well. In most cases and on the roads we drove in Navarra the ride was supple and comfortably absorbed most road surface imperfection without becoming unsettled.
Overall, the ride appeared refined and the bonus was the huge amount of front end grip. In terms of handling, that meant we could take tight corners easily without the fear of any understeer. Compared to some of the sports sedans from Europe, we think the only giveaway this isn’t the sportier set up is a faint softness in the rear making it a little reluctant to follow the front in relatively sharp directional changes. But the flip side is that this is also a comfortable and easy car to drive most of the time and most of the time the handling is neutral and hence not taxing or boring. The brakes are great, with strong and linear stopping power, but the pedal feel is lighter than you’d expect for a sports sedan. And after two days of cavorting around Spain’s twistiest mountain roads as well as a racetrack, we think Jaguar has nailed it for the XE. Verdict For the Indian-owned independently-run British company, by far, the all-new Jaguar XE is a massive move forward. However, the perennial question is: how does it stack up against the German premium opposition, the BMW 3 Series in particular? The Navarra, Spain experience did give us some hints about the car’s capabilities as an economy model and as capable performance variant. Well, is it better than the 3-Series? Unless we do a comparative, we don’t know if the all-new 2016 Jaguar XE is better, but going by what we have been exposed to it is certainly matches some of BMW’s often mentioned benchmarks. From the disastrous X-Type experience to the modern all-new XE, a confident Jaguar Land Rover has definitely moved up a long way.
Jaguar is going up against the engineering and marketing might of Mercedes-Benz or BMW. There’s every indication the new XE is just the type of merchandise the British brand had been lacking all these years
JUL 2015
43
44
JUL 2015
The range topping model of the XE line-up is the XE S and this car gets the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 from the F-Type which delivers a healthy 340hp and 332lb-ft of torque. This powertrain is used in quite a few models in the Jaguar line-up. As a tried and tested hardware it is put to good use in the XE where we found it delivering performance in spades. Its power delivery is lag free and almost instantaneous. Torque is available all the way and hits the engine’s 7,000rpm redline faster than you think. The ZF eight-speed automatic which is also used by BMW and Audi is also well suited for the job. On track, we went full throttle and noted that the supercharger
is barely audible, reminding us once again of the NVH management which effectively takes care of unpleasant vibrations etc. Over all, the V6 engine from the F-Type is able to add spice to the otherwise XE’s calm and composed nature. One thing we did note. Despite borrowing the engine and front suspension from the F-Type, ride quality is equally impressive thanks in part to the adaptive suspension. The car performs quite well even on standard 19in wheel. Jaguar says the software that involved in monitoring the dampers, do it 500 times per second so the car’s set-up is constantly
adjusted to keep it in tandem with most driving surfaces. Meanwhile, the sense of agility and composure is amplified by the direct and responsive steering, with sudden changes in direction rarely feeling unsettled. Interestingly, the sound track from the exhaust tip does lack the theatrics of the F-Type. Verdict While Jaguar’s core business model for the new XE revolves around savings in running costs, the British brand has also created a nice option for those wanted more fun. The range-topping XE S should tick the necessary boxes.
JUL 2015
45
2015 Dodge Charger SRT8 Hellcat
n o T A C L HEL ! wl o the pr
46
JUL 2015
In recent times, Dodge has focused on design and styling besides upgrading engineering hardware in models like the Charger. Automan was invited to check out the 2016 Charger SRT8 Hellcat, the model’s most potent model at Abu Dhabi located Yas Marina F1 Circuit last month Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Author and Supplied
W
hen we, the automotive fraternity talk about muscle cars, we like to talk numbers first. This adage is appropriate for the ‘Made in USA’ machines in particular and in the case of Dodge it wouldn’t be out of place to find a reference, trivia and a timeline in context of the specific car that we will be describing a little later. Dodge has been building muscle cars since the sixties. It began with the Polara [1960–1973], followed by the Dart 426 Hemi [1962–1965] and Coronet 426 Hemi [1965–1970]. The first Charger arrived in 1966 and continued production till 1974. Around the Charger came the Coronet Super Bee [1968–1971] and Dart GT and variants like the GTS, Swinger and Demon [1968–1976]. In 1969, Dodge introduced the Charger Daytona and in 1970 the Challenger. The current Charger entered 2011 as an entirely new vehicle, free of German influence and parts sharing. The sleeker and more evocative Charger shined with styling cues dating to the car’s Duke’s of Hazard years [1968-70]. In the Middle East, Dodge has positioned the Charger as North America’s fourdoor muscle car. The current model was extensively revised for 2015 and is offered in several flavours ranging from stock and variants with SRT badging. The Charger SRT Hellcat which made its official Middle East debut recently represents the sedan’s blue-blooded aspirations in the class it represents. In the current line-up available in the region, the last high-performance Charger that Automan tested was the 2012 SRT8 model that came with a 470hp 6.4-litre V8 Hemi engine and five-speed automatic. Despite the potent engine, suspension with adaptive damping and interesting performance figures of 4.3-4.4sec 0-96km/ h times, our niggle with that car was its aging transmission and build quality -- the hard, cheap-looking plastic used all over interiors in the car were an eyesore and the transmission felt hopelessly outdated and surprisingly, the steering also lacked sporty feedback.
All is not written off as engineers at Dodge have been able to extract every ounce of life for the Charger SRT8-based Hellcat. In fact, Dodge has ensured that the Hellcat is the most powerful production sedan on earth! At the Dodge Driving event last month, we were also given the opportunity to check out the two-door Challenger also. Driving both two- and four-door models back to back also gave us an idea not only about the packaging, but also the key elements that differentiate the two cars, especially when it comes to handling and performance. In terms of styling, from the exterior, the Hellcat retains the current Charger’s profile along with the benefits from the recent facelift. This means there’s no more of the gun-sight grille with seven air-inlet and outlet ports. The Hellcat also gets its own tailoring and signature cues like a power dome on the bonnet with air vents [they cover the forced fed apparatus underneath] and its own lower valance. Other details include a Hellcat badge on the side of the front mudguard. Rest of the car is similar to its SRT8 Charger sibling and all the scoops, ducts, vents and spoilers on these SRT-badged performance models are fully functional. In terms of dimensions, the Charger is longer than the Challenger. The Charger Hellcat drag coefficient stands at Cd 0.35 which is 12 per cent lower than that of the Challenger. At 2,072kg, the Charger Hellcat is approximately 45kg heavier than the Challenger Hellcat version. Inside the car, we are invited into a cosy and restyled driver-focused interior with improvised touch points. Most of the trim is now made of soft touch materials, tightened panel gaps an in general, the build quality has gone up a few notches. The dashboard design is familiar and the instrumentation is from the old school, but the standout modern feature is the latest generation 8.4in TFT touchscreen Uconnect media centre. Dodge specification sheet suggests that it has been programmed for total connectivity JUL 2015
47
and making life a little easier is the customizable SRT Performance Pages. In fact, we found downloadable apps are quite easy to get on with. Among the kit for the driver to play includes things like track, sport, custom, and default modes which engage software to sort of customise engine tune, output, damper effectiveness and transmission activity. In Race Options, one can configure launch control and the Valet mode allows restricted access to the car. In Performance Pages on the screen, one can get live information like power, torque, and boost, or conduct a full road test by recording acceleration times, braking distances, and peak G’s. So, there’s a lot of kit to explore and have fun with. In terms of comfort and appointments, the front bucket seats are trimmed with suede and are supportive. But after experiencing the car, we think they could use stiffer side bolsters to resist this car’s cornering feedback on the front occupants in particular. And here’s a brilliant idea, not usually found in muscles cars. The car comes with two key fobs – red and black. The red key unlocks the full potential of the 707hp V8 engine while the black key restricts engine outputs. The key fob differentiation is a brilliant idea and as expected at Yas Marina circuit, we chose the red key. In terms of hardware under the bonnet, there are some fundamental engineering differences between the stock, SRT8 and SRT8 Hellcat models. The stock model is available with 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar and 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine mated to ZF 8-speed transmission. The SRT8 Hellcat 48
JUL 2015
was designed in Michigan, assembled in Canada uses a Mexico-built 6.2-litre Hemi V8 engine mated to ZF 8-speed transmission with modified and wider gear ratios.
Most of the time spent with this car was on track and befittingly we took full advantage of what was on offer. At the Dodge Driving event, we were also given the opportunity to check out the twodoor Challenger also. Driving both two- and four-door models back to back also gave us an idea not only about the packaging, but also the key elements that differentiate the two cars, especially when it comes to handling and performance.
The engineering team responsible for the engine began their job by upgrading practically all the major components of the Hemi V8 engine. The cast-iron, deep-skirt block has been thickened and cooling passages enlarged. The forged steel crankshaft is induction-hardened, while forged steel rods have cracked bearing caps for extra-secure clamping. Each forged aluminium piston is designed to withstand more than 10 tons of combustion force, while the wrist pins have a diamond-like coating to minimize friction. While the heat-treated aluminium heads lack true hemispherical combustion chambers, they use twin spark plugs and larger valves. There’s one 2.14in intake valve and one 1.65in exhaust valve per cylinder, the latter with sodium-filled stems to dispense heat. The Lysholm-type twin-screw supercharger, capable of blowing more than 1000 cubic feet of air per minute has been supplied by IHI Turbo. Its maximum boost is 11.6 psi, and an electric pump circulates coolant through the intercoolers and two front-mounted heat exchangers every minute. The modification was done to ensure that the car can cope with extra torque and output. As with all 2015 Chargers which get a new differential, the Hellcat gets a different set of propeller shaft and half shafts. The suspension is fundamentally the same as one in the regular SRT Charger, with Hellcat-specific adjustments to the springs and valves. For stopping power, the 15.4in 6-piston Brembos up front in the Hellcat are the biggest brakes ever fitted to a Dodge. In terms
of performance, the numbers tell an impressive story with the quarter mile in 11.0 secs, 0-160-0 km/h in under 13secs, and a top speed of 326km/h. Driving impressions Like the stock Charger, the Hellcat version will carry four adults comfortably. You belt up as in a normal Charger, get your line of sight, steering position and power seats [lumber is done manually] adjusted and fire the car. We set the car’s transmission to track mode, placed the dampers in sport mode, squeezed the throttle pedal with due deliberation and drove off. Once we have cleared the pit lane exit, we joined the main track for a few laps and tried to unleash the car’s potential. Even in stock form, it’s no secret that the stock SRT8 Charger’s dynamics have been much improved on road with respective performance on track –especially in straight line. At the driving experience event at Yas Marina circuit we also tested a stock Charger and Challenger along with the Hellcat. While a stock Charger can catch a driver by surprise if he doesn’t plan his manouevre in time, especially on track, the SRT8 appears more composed. One has to remember that the Charger is a big car and in the past [Gen I] we have experienced that the torsional rigidity of the body was not enough to cope with the extreme demands of the driver, which thankfully has been factored in the Gen II models. The current SRT8 models are now capable of taking faster corners with composure and the overall response and attitude befits a performance sedan. The SRT8 Charger’s steering is also very
precise, lacking only the tiniest bit of resistance when you reach your intended input. So for the experienced driver, it’s literally child’s play when it comes to performing power slides. Having become familiar with the SRT8 Charger and how performance was delivered, it’s time to take the SRT8 Hellcat onto the track. As always, there’s a minder in the passenger seat who among other duties has been assigned to ensure we stay on track and specifically do not disengage traction control or perform power slides. On track, the Hellcat is a beast with its supercharger whine and exhaust howl reminding the driver of what’s underneath the sheetmetal. During the cool down laps, it behaves like as if it is in cruise mode, with the V8 engine barely offering an audible bass note. The exhaust tips are actually restricted by computer-
The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat has made it abundantly clear of Dodge’s brand values of power and visual appeal controlled butterfly-type baffle plates. Our hosts had prepared the track for us to explore the finer handling points of the car, especially cornering, braking and straight line acceleration. The first thing that strikes is the car’s power delivery. The torque delivery in the car is exceptionally refined for a muscle car. The 8-speed ZF
transmission with modded and taller ratios does its job very well. The suspension feels planted and set on the firm side. Steering is well-weighted and spot on. However, we did note that that Hellcat’s 275/40ZR 20in Pirelli P Zero tyres were feeling the heat at times while attempting to put down more than 8,000 lb-ft of torque [650lb-ft at 4,800rpm from the engine multiplied by 12.34 through the driveline in first gear]. At the tightest corners, this car can post an average 0.34G of acceleration when driven by experienced drivers. A chicane was incorporated after the left hander on the longest straight stretch of the track which effectively acted as a break. This set-up in the section did allow us to power drive car into the chicane with simultaneous braking and at the apex lifted the foot from the brake and stabbed the accelerator and took a left turn to rejoin the main track. Here we observed, unlike previous Chargers in a similar situation would have run wide with the tail shifting, the Hellcat does the same job as if it was built for it. The car feels much planted and hence gives the driver much more confidence in pushing it further, especially when exiting. What we felt with the car is that it likes to be pushed and team SRT have ensured it’s a fun car too as there is no artificial speed limiter to spoil the fun. Verdict The incoming 2015 Charger SRT8 Hellcat goes a step further in muscle cars and takes advantage of what Dodge has to offer: ranging from design upgrades, technology applications, improved build quality and performance. JUL 2015
49
2015 Audi A6
Six in the city In what can be seen as a platform refresh, the Audi A6 brings in styling upgrades and new power packs to up its game. Author: Raj Warrior
50
JUL 2015
Photographs: Supplied
JUL 2015
51
T
he executive sedan segment remains one of the most hotly contested of all, with the fortunes of the big three German manufacturers linked directly to how their luxo barges are received on the global scene. That’s why we see the advent of new technological features, engine technologies and manufacturing methods in this category on such a frequent basis. And there is an almost head-on measurement between the offerings. In this particular case the Audi A6 has to stack up against the E-class from Mercedes-Benz as well as the 5 series from BMW. These are its direct competitors. That does not mean that the cars try to either mimic each other or borrow characteristics. In practically every respect other than the amount of leather they use on the interiors, the models inhabit their own micro environments and it is only in incremental phases that the brands are able to wean customers from within this competition pool. However the biggest gains over the past few years have to attributed to the four circle brand of Audi. To begin with, they have had to divest themselves of an image of being a brand of various sizes of a similar car – essentially a S, M L, XL tag that went with the A4 to A8. Over the past five to six years, this has been done with aplomb. The new A8 had defined the upper standard, while the C7 version of the A6 (fourth generation, internally labelled the Typ 4G) borrowed heavily from the technology that went into the A8 without trying to look like a smaller car. It also helped that the A7 and A5 had also entered into the mainstream, thereby giving a spread of models across the spectrum, with increasing differentiation. Four years later the time for the mid-life upgrades is upon us. So the question arises – did they do enough to keep the car competitive? Structurally the platform continues to be a hybrid construction of high tensile steel and aluminium and is dimensionally unchanged from before, albeit a little lighter due to optimisation of materials. The styling has become just a bit more edgy with the fascia treatment guaranteeing that the car looks squatter than before. There has also been some healthy work done on the tail to carry the effect around. The biggest new change in engines is the almost wholesale move to the highly efficient TFSI engines for the petrol variants while the newer, cleaner TDI engines power the diesel ones. For our region we continue to get the 2.8 V6 FSI engine as the preferred engine by certain segments like the fleet buyers. The engine that hadn’t made the fleet by the time of our test rides was the new generation 2.0 four-cylinder TFSI that may at a future date also replace the 2.8 (though that is contested by the Audi spokesperson). During the course of our media interaction with the new A6 we covered the basic A6 as well as the S6 and RS6 variants of the car. Brilliantly done, the car displays a different character in each variant. 52
JUL 2015
JUL 2015
53
The A6 offers more as standard With an improved MMI interface, a new generation of high resolution screen powered by a Tegra processor and a customisable interface, the main difference a driver gets is in the environment he is presented with in the new A6. Nothing too dramatic. The choice of colours and textures adds to the cosseting cockpit like feel and the central panel between the speedometer and tachometer serves to present critical information for all aspects of driver control. The Nvidia Tegra processor also powers the pop-up centre screen. The audio systems vary from the basic to the top of the line from the outgoing model and Audi also continues its association with B & O. Engine variants available begin from the 1.8-litre TFSI Ultra, the 2.0-litre TFSI, the 2.8-litre V6 FSI and the 3.0-litre V6 TFSI that powers the quattro version. In terms of power ratings the engines stack up as 190HP and 320Nm torque on the 1.8-litre, which earns it the ultra badge, to 252HP and 370Nm on the new 2.0-litre TFSI to the range topping 3.0-litre V6 TFSI with 333HP and 440Nm of torque. As mentioned before the older Euro V 2.8-litre V6 FSI engine remains in the pool with 187HP. First drive of the A6 does not really 54
JUL 2015
communicate much change in terms of ride and pick-up except in how you feel ensconced in the cabin. NVH levels have obviously improved as has the quality and feel of the interface. Control surfaces have been cleaned up and the new 7-speed multitronic is way ahead of the old one. The S6 and RS6 In keeping with the tradition of the S variants, the new S6 too builds on the new look. Largely differenced by wheels and styling tokens, the engine is also larger and more powerful. The 4.0 TFSI, a biturbo V8 producing 331 kW (450 hp), accelerates the sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. The interiors are upgraded and the car gets air suspension as standard, allowing the car to ride 20mm lower than the A6. Also quattro is standard, while the rear sports suspension layout is optional. The V8’s get paired with the new eight-speed tiptronic gearbox, which is more than able to handle the immense torque from the biturbos. Blistering take off and rather tight response from the steering make for a nice road package. You can throw the car around corners, or just step on the accelerator and feel the V8 kick straight in with just the briefest pause.
The RS6 was available as an Avant bodystyle. This is the big daddy of the line-up with the biturbo V8 set up with better tuning and larger turbos. The high performance sports car for everyday driving and recreation accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 305 km/h. Its 4.0 TFSI engine produces 412 kW (560 hp) and 700Nm of torque. This engine has an economy mode that allows four-cylinders to idle when saving fuel. Since we had the RS6 for the longest leg of the drive, we really felt best about it. We managed to get it into the high 200’s on regular highways and the braking is matched. The eight-speed gearbox can handle all the torque and the steering rides the stiffened chassis just so well through the curves. It’s the car to buy if you have the money. Verdict So, the big question to answer is whether the new upgrades have done enough to take the C7 ahead into the competitive territory of the executive sedan. That should be in the affirmative. It’s the packaging as usual that sets the car apart at each price level and once you get into the territory of the S6 and RS6, the difference is starker still.
JUL 2015
55
2016 Ford F-150
56
JUL 2015
From the heaviest to the lightest in the segment, thanks to new lightweight build technologies and contemporary styling are among the new signature features in the all-new Gen XIII Ford F-150 pick-up truck. Automan checks the new arrival in Oman Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
JUL 2015
57
F
ord has been selling its F-Series truck for nearly four decades and has always promoted them under the “built Ford tough” tagline and the most popular variant of the F-Series has been the F-150 which besides being a best seller in the brand’s domestic market is also quite popular in some overseas markets, especially in the Middle East. The latest iteration which represents the model’s 13thgeneration is more than an evolution. Ford it seems will never abandon the F-Series pick-up line as it brings them good moolah and hence Blue Oval is keen to ensure that the future F-150’s does have a lasting career. But as with large vehicles these days, the matter of succession now involves much more than just a simple makeover or improved feature pack. In that respect and also keeping in mind the market trends and changes especially with large vehicles in its domestic and overseas markets, Ford had been toying with the successive F-150 idea since 2013. In fact, the 2013 Ford Atlas concept vehicle was presented to give an idea of what could be done with the F-Series – in terms of styling and aluminium cab construction besides the ability to be flexible enough to allow a host of efficiency-oriented technologies. While, the idea of all-aluminium 58
JUL 2015
construction has been wholeheartedly accepted by several premium carmakers like Audi, Jaguar Land Rover or Bentley among others, the achieve desired results, these companies have invested heavily in plant and technologies. Till now, aluminium bodied pick-up trucks were unheard of and hence Ford also had the challenge of ensuring its acceptance within the hardcore trucking community and therefore put disguised prototypes on endurance trails like in the 883-mile Baja rally to ensure it met the durability requirements. As of now, the new F-150 has metamorphosed from the heaviest to the lightest in its class. Since the F-150 weighs less than competitors unloaded, the engines have been downsized. Engineering changes have been made accommodate powertrains ranging from 2.7-litre right up to the 5.0-litre V8. According to Ford, the amount of high-strength steel in the chassis is now 77percent [up from 23 percent] which makes it roughly three times stiffer than before. The production of the chassis has been outsourced by Ford to specialists Metalsa in Kentucky. Metalsa is the company which purchased Dana’s structural products business some years ago.
With this new F-150’s specification list, Ford gives us the impression that it had ‘increase fuel economy’ on the top of its development agenda. As a result, the 2015 model [depending on trim/variant etc reduces its curb weight by up to 750lbs. While, extensive use of aluminium in the body structure and high strength steel in the frame are among key highlights, the only major component of sheet metal not made from aluminium is the laminated steel firewall. Depending on markets, the F-150 is sold with three cab styles -- regular, super and crew -- with 4x2/4x4 drivetrain set-ups and three pick-up box lengths. Several trims are offered depending on the cab style and are identified by their badging like XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. Ford goes one step forward by offering factory develop sport appearance packages for the XL, XLT and Lariat versions. Obviously, Ford is keen to ensure a high level of flexibility when selling these trucks. While the transition from steel body to aluminium in the truck’s cab is commendable, Ford’s build quality is still a few notches behind the metal’s premium users. This is evident in the fit, finish and panel gap tolerances. However, we are confident as Ford moves on further in this
territory things will improve as it gains experience. In its sheet metal design, the character lines of the outgoing F-150 have given way to softer organic surface treatment. As a result, most of the sheet metal appears slab-sided. The face of the vehicle is new and actually appears quite refined for a lifestyle-cum-utilitarian machine. Running boards are fixed and not concealed. Inside the cabin, Ford has decided to pamper its occupants. Lifestyle elements include massaging seats, single-and dualpanel moon roofs, an oversized eightinch TFT screen embedded between the speedometer and tachometer. Compare to other competitive models in the segment, by far, F-150 offers the most advanced and easiest to read instrumentation. The occupants sit high and there’s command view all around. Driver aids that matter are also impressive in this package and include hardware like a new 360˚ camera system that eases everything from hitching up a trailer to crawling over obstacles at low speed. Our tester also had Tiptronic – and, yes, you have guessed it right – the button resides on the side of the Mustangderived gearshift knob. While we can agree to some extent with the technology package as being the most fully ¬realized
and perhaps the best available in the segment, the common niggle is that Ford’s Sync entertainment system is still isn’t as intuitive or as smart as we’d like to be, but it’s getting better at its job. Meanwhile, Ford’s choice of plastics also indicated that it is behind its European brethren. Besides the size and trims, what goes under the bonnet also represents a generous spread when it comes to
The aluminium-bodied 2015 Ford F-150 brings huge weight savings for North America’s bestselling pick-up powertrain applications. Again depending on markets, three of the available engines carry over from the previous model and there’s one new engine. Meanwhile, the previous top-of-the-line 6.2-litre V8 has been dropped altogether. The entry level gets, a 283hp 3.5-litre flex-fuel V6, a 325hp 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, a 365-hp 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 and a 385-hp 5.0-litre
flex-fuel V8. The new 2.7-litre engine includes stop/start technology and active grill shutters are available with all engine choices to further improve fuel economy. All engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Our tester came with the V8. Despite the availability of coil suspension set ups, Ford has chosen to continue with the leaf spring architecture for the rear suspension. There are no indication of adaptive damping measures either. Safety features on all F-150 models includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, electronic stability/trailer sway control, hill start assist, hill descent control, ABS and SOS post-crash alert. Available on some trims or optional are reverse parking sensors, rearview camera, MyKey, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning and braking, blindspot warning with cross-path detection, inflatable rear seatbelts, and self-parking assist. Driving impressions In the previous editions of the F-150, it’s no secret that Ford had some catching up to do especially in the departments JUL 2015
59
of ride quality. Part of this was due to the low rigidity and flexing tendencies of the frame. Our initial impression with this vehicle was quite pleasant. On road, we felt the F-150 feels much more composed and in some respects even quicker than its performance numbers suggest due to several things. First, there’s lot of torque to play with, the benefits of an aluminium cab translated in top insulation and containment of the wind noise in the vehicle and the solid planted feel which is a direct benefit from the stiffened chassis/frame that appears highly resistant to flexing even when driven hard. Occasionally, some tyre related rumble may be heard, which usually depends on the road surface it is being driven. Since the truck still employs leaf springs at the rear in its suspension set-up, there’s quite a bit of handling difference noted in different driving scenarios, that is, when the truck is run loaded or when it is not loaded. While, competitive trucks in the segment like Dodge Ram and Chevrolet Silverado have adopted coil spring architecture, there’s are subtle differences noted and expected in handling characteristics. So, when the F-150 is run without any load in the cargo bay, in terms of handling 60
JUL 2015
there’s a bit of a compromise as it can appear skittish. What we can say is that having at some point of time driven all three, with rear leaf springs set-up, outright the F-150 can’t match the Ram for ride quality, and it isn’t as athletic as the Silverado, but its ride-and-handling balance may be the best of the three, especially when it has sufficient payload to help keep the rear planted. For Oman roads in particular, the steering feedback is one of the strong points as its response is accurate and the driver is never left wondering what exactly the front wheels are doing. The light steering is a bit dull on centre which is typical of these systems that will compensate for crosswinds and road crown to minimize fatigue, but we did not it returns to centre well after a corner manouevre and hence not tiring the driver. While in most asphalt drives, the F-150 rides comfortably, but its ride is forgiving over rough trails or dirt tracks, yet the truck still feels planted when cornering more aggressively. The only niggle we felt comes from the brake pedal which appears touchy and is short of feedback. We think it needs further improvement.
Our tester came with tow/haul mode and it works as it should. In economy programming you can also use Sport mode for undulating roads to keep gearchanging to a minimum. In most the top gears, it can be manually locked out in D using the thumb switch, and in M the selected gear is held even at full throttle unless the truck slows below idle speed or stops. We’d still prefer paddle shifters on the steering as it ensures the driver has both hands on the wheel and better control of the large vehicle. While, axle ratios vary by engine and trim, but funnily they don’t reach the 4.10:1 which is offered in current Navigator. The most performance oriented ratios are offered only on heavy load or towing packages. It’s a technical challenge and no automaker has been able to combine an off-road package with shorter axle ratios handy in four-wheel drive! Verdict The 2016 F-150 pick-up truck has set itself apart from the competition by rethinking the entire segment. Previously among the heaviest in the half-ton class, the F-150 is now among the lightest. And it shows in the way it drives, at least without a full load.
JUL 2015
61
2015 Volkswagen Scirocco R
Hot Hot
Metal Volkswagen created the Scirocco as a true 2-door hot hatch in the mould of the Golf GTI. Now, comes the ‘R’ version for a slightly different audience. Automan checks out the car in UAE Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Nabeel Ferzan
A
fter a gap of several years between two generations of Sciroccos [1974 and 1992], Volkswagen reintroduced the Gen III Scirocco, its hot hatch coupe in 2008, followed by the ‘R’ version a year later. The current Scirocco and its variants are based on the older Gen V/VI Golf’s PQ35 platform. It may be recalled that Gen VII Golf has been built on VW’s new MQB platform. For the current model year, the entire Scirocco line-up gets mild refresh and when we mention mild, we really mean it. The Scirocco R is a production variant based on the GT24 and when you see the refreshed by Walter de Silva creation that comes out from VW’s Palmela, Portugal plant. For the facelift, the car has been left largely unchanged which means it continues as a compact hatchback than sports car, although the wide grille, bulging rear wheel arches and windows that narrow towards the rear give it a distinctive look. The key changes evident are mostly in detailing items like the head and tail lamps that have been updated. However, there are some visual differences between the stock and R variants of this car. The R has received its unique stylecum-functional features like large air 62
JUL 2015
intake openings in the front bumper, an integrated front spoiler, bi-xenons, larger rear roof edge spoiler, black diffuser, dual exhaust with chrome tailpipes and Talladega 18in alloy wheels. The rear and now swivelling VW logo doubles up as a lever for opening the boot lid. Meanwhile, the narrow aerodynamic elements called “blades” seem to be inspired by the new Golf GTI and are located in the side of the bumper join together to form a new front section look. And similar to the XL1 and the Beetle, the Scirocco is the only model in the Volkswagen line-up where the corporate logo is on the bonnet. As a R model, the Scirocco also gets some preferential surface treatment from its designers and the outcome of this effort is evident on the side of the car. The door mirror housings are finished in “matt chrome”, the side sill extensions with “R” styling and the brake calipers are painted black with “R” logo. The standard 18in wheel trim for the Volkswagen Scirocco R named “Cadiz” has also been redesigned and can also be ordered as a 19in version too. Although the car has two less doors than the Golf, the long doors push the B-pillar far back to allow quite good side visibility.
JUL 2015
63
The Scirocco and its variants might be Golf-based, but they are quite different inside as they have been revisited by the experts from Volkswagen R GmbH. The arcing roof and upsweep of the window creates a darker cabin ambience. The stainless steel pedals and flat-bottomed steering wheel add to the sporty feel. The instruments gauges have been redone along with dashboard mounted ancillary gauges which consist of a chronometer, a boost pressure gauge and an oil temperature gauge. For a hatch, we would agree that these are neat touches in the cabin with an overdose of branding cues. While, build quality and touch points are good, but the car’s Eos coupe-cabrio’s oldfashioned carried over dashboard gives the cabin its aged looks and one can’t also ignore traces of the old-generation switchgear too. Golf GTI drivers will have no problem in identifying the origins of the steering wheel in this car. Individualised features include the “Race” seat covers with the “R” logo and fancy stitching in crystal grey. The car gets a black roofliner, decorative “Carbon Race” inlays and applications in glossy “Piano Black” (radio 64
JUL 2015
faceplate, multifunction leather sport steering wheel and door handles) and stainless steel pedals. The specific “R” instrument needles are traditionally blue and the aluminium door sill plates are complemented by an “R” logo. We liked the well-bolstered half-alcantara adorned bucket sports seats. Meanwhile, the rear seats complement the front buckets with fixed headrests that mimic roll hoops and have considerable bolstering. Prior to the refresh, one of the niggles was related to the rear view which was
The Scirocco R uses the older underpinning of the Golf GTI, but sacrifices two doors, weight and some interior space. But the buyer gains a hot coupe-hatch with headturning good looks
obscured by a small rear windscreen and the large rear seat headrests. This refreshed version now has a reversing camera tucked away in the boot badge like its Golf brother. Likewise, practical features over some of the coupé alternatives in this car we would say are the four usable seats and a decent boot which can be accessed through a small aperture from inside the car also. The coupe’s rear seats also fold to increase the deep boot’s capacity to a healthy maximum of 1,006 litres. The powertrain package in this car is designed to deliver. Its 2.0-litre fourcylinder direct injection turbocharged FSI engine has been improved to offer higher output and lower by 19 per cent fuel consumption and improved CO2 emissions. There’s a 15bhp hike in power output, meaning the engine now puts out 255bhp at 6,000rpm and 330Nm-350Nm at 2,500 rpm. Our tester came with six-speed DSG. The electronic mapping of the engine is designed to offer flexibility more than outright drama. Driving impressions We wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people
JUL 2015
65
would be skeptical about performance from an older generation chassis. A drive in the car will dispel any myths within a few kilometers and we think Volkswagen engineers have done an extraordinary job with the front-drive chassis. One of the things that frighten people in these kind of set-ups is the tendency of the car to torque steer [remember the unpredictable and notorious behaviour of the front-wheel drive Ford Focus ST?] We are happy to report that despite using most of the 330Nm on less than perfect surfaces, the car showed pretty good resistance to torque steer tendencies. Now, the big question is how was that made possible? Actually, there’s a bag of tricks that VW has employed and one of them is largely attributed to its new XDL differential which sends power to the outside wheel if the inside wheel starts to spin. As a result, the nippy coupe rewards the driver with lots of steering feedback and sharp responses, besides encouraging aggressive entry to corners and early application of power without fear of plough-on front-drive traits. Also aiding in the good on-road 66
JUL 2015
performance is the car’s low ride height. In fact, the car is able to communicate a good sense of speed when cruising on faster roads. The standard adaptive dampers ensure the ride isn’t overly firm if you stick to the comfort setting, but the fact of matter is that the latest-generation Golf VII handles and rides much better and in a polished manner which also makes the coupe feel a bit dated. Selecting the ‘Sport’ setting stiffens the dampers, and sharpens throttle and steering responses. The extra weight added to the steering might become tiresome however, so there’s a handy ‘Individual’ mode where you can mix and match your favourite settings, and there’s also the provision to save the chosen configuration. Brisk acceleration from a standstill is definitely a strong character of this car and it is accompanied with a pleasing turbo whistle. But the initial natural engine note is drowned out by a synthetic sound piped through the cabin’s speakers. We don’t know why companies like VW resort to such
unwarranted measures when rest of the package is reasonably OK? On a positive note, we found the engine tremendously flexible if lacking in drama and revs of the R32 and the steering is never felt too heavy and is geared just quickly enough to handle hairpins without hands actually having to leave the wheel which means it has a fantastic change of direction and a huge amount of grip. In UAE, it’s not so difficult to find tight S bends and we were pleasantly surprised with the car’s quite astonishing confidence-inspiring tyre grip, tightened suspension with adaptive dampers and performance brakes. Verdict In the absence of real competition in the segment in the region, the refreshed for 2015 Scirocco R appears competent and in general once again proves that keeping size and weight down is the recipe to driving pleasure. And knowing VW over the years, we are genuinely pleased that the carmaker resisted any attempt to give its coupe the extra power and four-wheel drive [from the Golf R]. In the UAE, the Scirocco R retails for AED 141,646.00.
JUL 2015
67
Lexus RC F GT Last month Lexus announced that it was set to compete in the Time Attack class of the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The car for the job has been specially created and is an experimental version of the RC F coupe. Using the classic power-to-weight optimization formula, the concept sheds about 800lbs than its stock counterpart. This has been made possible by the extensive use of lightweight composite materials inside and out. The windows are made out of lightweight and shatter resistant polycarbonate. The car’s bonnet, roof panel, boot lid, mudguards and the rear spoiler are crafted out of carbon fibre. All these weight-saving measures lower the RC F’s weight to 3,130lbs. The lightweight treatment continues inside, where the dashboard, the center console and the door panels have been replaced by custom-designed carbon fibre components. The steering is commanded through a three-spoke wheel, and the coupe gains a pair of Recaro bucket seats fitted with Takata harnesses and a full roll cage. Lexus has not made any mechanical changes, meaning the GT concept is powered by a stock RC F-sourced 467hp 5.0-litre V8. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission controlled by shift paddles. Final performance figures have not been release as the coupe was still being fine-tuned when we went to press. The regular-production RC F can reach 60 mph from a stop in just 4.4 seconds, so expect the concept to be a lot faster. At the evetn, the car will be piloted by Briton Justin Bell. 68
JUL 2015
JUL 2015
69
Bentley Flying Spur Beluga Specification
B
entley is offering a new trim level called the Beluga Specification for the V8-powered Flying Spur. The trim idea takes inspiration from either an Arctic Ocean-dwelling cetacean or a supersized Airbus, the Beluga Specification stands out from the regular Flying Spur thanks to 20in Black and Bright machined alloy wheels, gloss black trim on the grille and a body-colored lower grille bar. 70
JUL 2015
The updates continue inside, where the Beluga Specification brings piano black veneer on the dashboard and the door panels, knurled shift paddles, contrast stitching on the seats and the steering wheel as well as deep pile floor mats with contrasting leather binding. Pictures of the cockpit have not been published yet. Bentley has not made any changes under the hood, and the Beluga Specification packs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8
engine that makes 500 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 487 lb-ft. of torque at just 1,700 rpm. Linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels, the V8 allows the 5,329-pound sedan to reach 60 mph from a stop in 4.9 seconds and go on to a top speed of 183 mph. Intentionally discreet, the updates are designed to give the Flying Spur a sportier look and is on sale now globally.
Aston Martin DB9 GT
A
ston Martin revealed the first details of its DB9 GT -- the brand’s most compelling production ‘DB’ to date. Designed to offer the best of what DB9 can be, the new car delivers world-class grand touring and hand-built excellence. Aside from the subtle GT badges, this new DB9 variant is identified by black painted splitter and diffuser, revised head and tail lamp treatments and new tenspoke 20inalloy wheels. Black anodised
brake calipers and a GT engraving on the aluminium fuel filler cap further distinguish the features. Personalisation options like carbon fibre tail lamp inserts, side strakes, front splitter and rear diffuser; graphite, diamond-turned ten-spoke alloy wheels and alternative brake caliper colours are also offered. Inside, the 2+2 seating configuration remains, however the seats now boast ‘GT’ embroidery on the unique fluted leather. An iridium trim pack and
Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel (Coupe only) further distinguish the new car. A broad array of options inside the DB9 GT include various centre console finishes such as Ice Mocha and Copper Cuprum, while other interior options include Duotone leather seats, door inserts and head linings; and a One-77-inspired steering wheel design. The car is powered by an uprated 6.0-litre V12 engine which now boasts 547 PS. JUL 2015
71
72
JUL 2015
Automan is the first automotive magazine in the Sultanate of Oman which introduced Car Of The Year [COTY]. This year, it is in its fourth iteration. As before, the selection criterion and the nomination categories remain unchanged. This means all of the contenders are new vehicles available now or before year’s end in the Middle East markets. Only cars and motorcycles which have been tested by Automan’s jury/editors are eligible for nomination and the nomination process goes through two stages. In the first stage Automan will produce a list of nominees in their respective segments and will be announced in June and December of the current year. The second round will find the single winner of the respective categories that will be made announced in January 2016. For this year, we also note the importance of design driving new cars and hence we have decided to include a special award for design under ‘Editor’s Choice’. Here’s a list of the nominated cars and their respective categories till June 2015
Kia Sorento
Infiniti QX80
Mid-size SUV
Large SUV
Ssangyong Korando
Lincoln MKC
Small SUV
Small SUV
BMW X6
Lincoln MKS
Premium SUV
Large Car
JUL 2015
73
74
JUL 2015
Triumph Rocket III
Lexus RC F Coupe
Cruiser/Road Bike
Performance Car
Nissan Juke
Volkswagen Touareg
Small SUV
Large SUV
Audi TT Roadster
Lincoln Navigator
Sports Car
Large SUV
Volvo XC90
Ferrari California T
Premium SUV
Sports Car
Ford Expedition
suzu MUX
Large SUV
Mid-size SUV
MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800
Harley-Davidson Fat Bob
Sports/Supersports bike
Cruiser/Road bike
Bentley Flying Spur V8
KTM RC200
Luxury Car
Sports/Supersports bike
Hyundai Veloster Turbo
Mazda CX5
Hatchback
Mid-size SUV
Renault Captur
Ford Mustang
Small SUV
Performance car
BMW X4
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Premium SUV
Mid-size SUV
JUL 2015
75
Rosberg snatches victory in Austria
L
ewis Hamilton started Sunday’s Spielberg race from pole position, but it was Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg who led into Turn 1. From there on the German never looked back, securing his third win of the season to reduce Hamilton’s title advantage to just 10 points. The world champion, also handicapped by a 5sec time penalty for crossing the white line on the pit exit, took the flag 3.8sec behind Rosberg, while Felipe Massa scored his first and Williams’ second podium of the season in third. With Hamilton slow off the line, Rosberg snatched an 76
JUL 2015
advantage he only surrendered briefly during the single pit stops, and he controlled the race with ease despite late worries about a serious front tyre vibration. Hamilton pushed hard, but even his penalty made no difference to the outcome; this was a day on which nobody could live with Rosberg. Nor could anyone hold a candle to the Mercedes. Sebastian Vettel tried his best, but lost third place when Ferrari’s pit stop was delayed as the right rear wheel took longer to change. That was sufficient to drop him behind Massa’s Williams, and his chase
after the Brazilian was one of the race’s highlights. Over the final laps he was within striking distance, but Massa held on for his first podium since Abu Dhabi last year. Ferrari lost their other car in a violent accident on the opening lap, which brought out the safety car until lap seven. As Kimi Raikkonen got wheelspin exiting Turn 2, the Ferrari came into contact with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren. Both hit the outer wall and the McLaren mounted the Ferrari and was dragged along atop its cockpit - only inches from Raikkonen’s head - until their momentum was sapped. It
looked bad, but neither driver was harmed. McLaren then retired their second car soon afterwards, when Jenson Button lost power after two pit stops, one to serve his 10s stopand-go penalty for power unit changes, the other to investigate the incurable problem. After a gritty fight with Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India, Valtteri Bottas finally got his Williams home fifth, while seventh developed into a tooth-and-nail fight between Lotus’s Pastor Maldonado and Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen. Maldonado had started on
the soft Pirellis and the Venezuelan was attacking on the supersofts just as Verstappen was struggling as his softs began to lose their edge. After being rebuffed several times and having a couple of wild moments, the Lotus driver finally made it stick with two laps to go. Verstappen never gave up, however, and the Toro Rosso was still less than a second behind by the flag. Despite serious vibrations from a flat-spotted front tyre, Sergio Perez hung on to take ninth for Force India, as Daniel Ricciardo made use of a very late pit stop on lap 50 and then a set of supersofts to climb back into the points for Red Bull. He was three seconds adrift at the finish. Felipe Nasr couldn’t keep 10th place for Sauber under the Australian’s onslaught and thus finished 11th, well
ahead of Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull which lost time with an opening lap stop for a new nose and then struggled with other bodywork damage. Marcus Ericsson made the flag despite a drive-through penalty for a jump start and his Sauber twice cutting out and needing him to reset its electronics, and Roberto Merhi was the final finisher for Marussia. Besides Raikkonen and the McLarens, Will Stevens’ Marussia retired with an oil leak, Carlos Sainz went out after losing time with a rear wheel problem in the pits, and Romain Grosjean’s Lotus lost gears. Hamilton still leads the drivers’ championship with 169 points to Rosberg’s 159 and Vettel’s 120, while in the constructors’ stakes Mercedes have 328 points to Ferrari’s 192 and Williams’ 129.
Standings Pos. Driver
Team
Time
Points
1
Nico Rosberg
Mercedes
1:30:16.930
25
2
Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
+8.800s
18
3
Felipe Massa
Williams
+17.573s
15
4
Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari
+18.181s
12
5
Valtteri Bottas
Williams
+53.604s
10
6
Nico Hulkenberg
Force India
+64.075s
8
7
Pastor Maldonado
Lotus
+1 lap
6
8
Max Verstappen
Toro Rosso
+1 lap
4
9
Sergio Perez
Force India
+1 lap
2
10
Daniel Ricciardo
Red Bull
+1 lap
1
Dramatic win for Rossi at Assen An epic duel with Marquez and lots of dram till the last lap, Rossi showed the opposition who reigns An estimated 97,000 fans basking in the sunshine at the legendary TT Circuit Assen were treated to one of the greatest MotoGP battles ever witnessed as the nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi managed to hold off Marc Marquez in a dramatic end to the race to take his 111th GP victory and extend his championship lead. Marquez made a move on Rossi as the duo entered the final chicane on the very last lap and made contact with the Italian, forcing Rossi to run straight on through the gravel. Rossi managed to stay upright though and went on to take the chequered flag 1.242s ahead of Marquez, claiming his third win of the season and first from pole position since Misano in 2009. Movistar Yamaha’s Rossi, starting from pole for the first time since Valencia last season, led into the first corner and it didn’t take Marquez long to join him after starting from third on the grid, overtaking 78
JUL 2015
Aleix Espargaro on the first lap to move into second. Marquez was happy to sit behind Rossi for most of the race, before making his move and taking the lead into turn 1 on lap 20. Rossi bided his time, and then responded with 3 laps to go to retake the lead at turn 10. The Italian then put in his fastest lap of the race in an effort to pull away, but Marquez responded on the final lap to get within striking distance once again as the duo approached the final chicane. Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo enjoyed a brilliant start from eighth on the grid, and found himself in third after the first lap. Any hopes the Spaniard had of making it five wins in a row disappeared shortly afterwards though, as Rossi and Marquez pulled away at the front and disappeared off into the distance. The double MotoGP World Champion eventually crossing the line 14.576s behind his teammate in a lonely third position.
Ducati Team’s Andrea Iannone [+19.109s] was another four seconds back as he also circulated for most of the race on his own, finishing just over four and a half seconds back from Lorenzo. Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Pol Espargaro won an incredible battle for 5th that saw four riders all within 0.4s of each other. The Spaniard also finished as the leading Satellite rider 0.105s ahead of CWM LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow in sixth. Espargaro’s teammate Bradley Smith crossed the line in seventh in front of Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa [+24.656s], who had fought back valiantly after a crash in Warm Up, and a disastrous start that saw him down in 12th after the first lap. The Team Suzuki Ecstar duo of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales were next across the line in ninth and tenth respectively, ahead of Octo Pramac Racing’s Danilo Petrucci [11th] and the second Factory Ducati of Andrea
Dovizioso in twelfth. EG 0,0 Marc VDS’s Scott Redding finished 46.663s back from Rossi in 13th, while Loris Baz [Athina Forward Racing] took the Open class victory, and the final championship point that was up for grabs in 15th, just ahead of Aspar MotoGP Team’s Nicky Hayden who crossed the line in 16th. Hector Barbera and Jack Miller were involved in a crash on the very first lap that resulted in the former having to go to the medical centre for checks on his right leg, although he was later declared fit. Alex De Angelis, Eugene Laverty and Stefan Bradl also crashed out; with the latter finding out he had fractured the scaphoid in his right wrist after an X-ray at the Medical Centre. Rossi’s [163pts] victory, his 85th in the premier class, means he has extended his lead in the championship standings over Lorenzo [153pts] to 10 points with ten races to go.
New Yamaha chassis for Rossi and Lorenzo MotoGP title leaders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will try a new Yamaha chassis during Thursday practice at Assen. The chassis performed well in a recent private test at Aragon, specifically helping corner entry. Movistar Yamaha confirmed that Rossi and Lorenzo were riding the new design at the Dutch TT race last month. Rossi confirmed the move by saying: “We tried a new frame at Aragon. The plan was to try the new frame at two different tracks - Barcelona and Aragon - and Barcelona would have been really important to compare back-to-back with the race on Sunday. “Unfortunately the weather was very bad in Barcelona on Monday, so we tried the frame only at Aragon. But the feeling is good and we will try also tomorrow. During practice we have to understand if in reality it is better or not.” Rossi currently leads Lorenzo by just one-point after the Spaniard won the past four races in a row. Meanwhile, reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is also due to try last year’s Honda chassis at Assen, as he seeks to improve the rear grip characteristics of his RCV. Marquez has struggled with unpredictable rearend slides from the latest RCV, hurting his previous corner-entry strength and forcing him to place ever more faith in the front tyre. After falling for the second time in as many races, Marquez stepped back to the 2014 chassis [fitted with the 2015 engine, exhaust and swingarm] for the post-race Catalunya test. The Repsol Honda star reported “the feeling was good”, although a rain storm wrecked his chances of a full evaluation and he only completed a handful of laps on the chassis. But with non-scores in three of the seven races dropping Marquez 69-points behind title leader Valentino Rossi, and 68 from Jorge Lorenzo, Marquez has little to lose by taking risks with his machinery. “We know the weather can be unstable here but I tried [the 2014 chassis] in Montmelo. It was good and I will use here,” said Marquez, confirming what Honda had told Crash.net earlier in the
day. “The feeling [with the 2014 chassis] was more-or-less what I had last year. I was able to do more mistakes and less risk. “With this year’s [2015 chassis] we are able to be really fast over one lap, but during the race it is so difficult to be consistent and just one small mistake and you crash. “I think we are getting closer to the solution - to the confidence and the feeling of what I had last year. But it is not a case of finding one solution to put on or off and everything will work. “I think we need to continue in this way because every race I feel better. In Mugello and Montmelo we worked hard and now we have a base, but still we need to work because both Yamaha riders are strong. It is not only their bike - they have good confidence and are pushing a lot. “We know it will be difficult to beat them here, but we will try to be closer and even closer again in Germany.” Due to the MotoGP development freeze, which currently applies only to Honda and Yamaha, engine design cannot be changed during the racing season. Meanwhile, at the first practice session in Assen, Valentino Rossi set the pace. The Yamaha rider was quiet for much of the 45-minute session as Honda’s Dani Pedrosa led the way with a time set inside the first quarter of an hour. Marc Marquez began the session by crashing on his outlap on cold tyres, but he was able to get back on his Honda and return to the pits. He later displaced team-mate Pedrosa at the top of the times inside the final five minutes, but was forced to settle for second after three consecutive fastest laps from Rossi, who ended up nearly two tenths of a second clear. Pedrosa improved his time late on but he remained third ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. Pol Espargaro beat Tech 3 team-mate Bradley Smith to fifth place, with the Suzuki duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro behind that. Andrea Dovizioso was the best of the Ducati entries in ninth ahead of Pramac rider Danilo Petrucci. Andrea Iannone was 13th behind LCR’s Jack Miller and Cal Crutchlow.
Nissan impresses at Blancpain Endurance Series race with stunning victory
Nissan’s Alex Buncombe (GB), Katsumasa Chiyo (JAP) and Wolfgang Reip (BEL) took a commanding victory in Saturday’s 1000km Blancpain Endurance Series race, which ran into the night at Paul Ricard in France, last month. This was the first overall Blancpain Endurance Series win for Nissan and the best possible warm up for next month’s Spa 24 Hours for Nissan GT Academy Team RJN. The #23 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 started from seventh on the 60+ car grid after receiving a fiveplace penalty for a pit lane infringement. Katsumasa Chiyo made a great start and immediately showed off the GT-R’s brakes to their full effect when a Ferrari, Bentley and McLaren crashed right in front of him at Turn Five. The Safety Car was dispatched while the track was cleared but once the race resumed Chiyo was soon up to second place, hunting down the Lamborghini that was in the lead. Meanwhile, Bentley’s challenge for the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series championship intensified with a hardfought podium finish. The #7 Continental GT3 of British trio Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick and Steven Kane finished P2 after an exciting six hours of racing, culminating in Steven closing to within 1.6 seconds of the leader in the final stages. Overall points from the race mean that Bentley Team M-Sport now sits atop the Teams Championships for the first time this year, with the drivers of car #7 now second in the Drivers Championship by one point. The second Bentley Continental GT3, the #8 car of Andy Soucek, Maxi Buhk and Maxime Soulet endured a more challenging race, after contact for Maxime in the opening lap put him to the back of field. The team recovered well after the incident, only for progress to be disrupted by a pair of stop-and-go penalties later in the race. However, strong pace and a determined attitude saw the #8 car finish P12 overall and P8 in class, which was rewarded with championship points. JUL 2015
79
A collector’s world You can’t spend years in close association with automotive memorabilia without realising that the genre has an allure and appeal that can suck in the very hard hearted among us. After all, even a keychain with the flying Bentley wings, a cup with a Porsche logo and a baseball cap with some racing logos counts for memorabilia. But then, one man’s collectible is another man’s stock in trade. It is all a matter of relative value. And being a member of the automotive press puts one in a unique position. If I remember rightly, when my career began I would get excited in increasing degrees by the value I attached to the logos on the handouts we received. That meant a BMW was always more interesting than a Tata Motors. But after a couple of decades I realise that I’ve become inured to the concept. Now, a keychain is just that, as is a cup or T-shirt. Now the value is attached firmly to the quality of the underlying item. If it’s something I would like to wear or use, I keep it. Anything else is immediately passed on to someone who isn’t afflicted with my lack of logo envy. But that’s not how it is always. I know there are some brands that I still value above and beyond. I’ve paid good money to buy branded merchandise from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Lotus. I’ve also bought a couple of motorcycle brand related items. But then I am also trapped by my identity as an auto journalist. I cannot wear a T-shirt or cap with an automotive brand sewn on it without the automatic assumption being voiced that it is a handout. Nor can I gift anyone I know an automotive tagged goodie without earning the sobriquet of a cheapo gifter. I’ve been trapped out early on in my career, having wasted good money. No more. Now I go the extra mile to ensure that there are no logos besmirching the gift. Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick of the Automotive journalism field from the past 15 years. Want to comment or have your say? Email at raj@alroya.net. Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and your id blocked
Yet the appeal of the car logo is quite strong elsewhere in the world. Branded merchandise makes up a significant part of a manufacturer’s halo. Take a brand like Ferrari for instance. The Ferrari store is definitely mainstream. You can find one right outside their factory gate in Maranello, in the Ferrari World at Abu Dhabi as well as in shopping malls around the world. People are more than ready to pay a premium for the presence of the prancing horse on the cup or cap. Another brand that seems to be more connected with its merchandise than its core products is Harley-Davidson. The undercurrent of a bad boy image is central to the draw of the brand, although there is nothing overtly bad boy about the bikes itself. What is a Harley-Davidson badge without a skull lurking somewhere in the background? It seems like there a lot of middle-aged wannabe Hell’s Angels out there. But the true collectors of the automotive world are the gentlemen and ladies who are ready to put their big money where their mouths are. They buy the one-off editions, the collectible supercars and power the extremely large business in classic and vintage cars and bikes. It’s for these big spenders and committed collectors that brands make unique cars. I’ve had the good fortune to see a whole bunch of FXX cars sitting in Ferrari’s garage, kept for the collector who knows that he is onto an appreciating asset. The next shed had retired Formula One cars owned by the same breed. Of course the very best of the breed also spend on the paraphernalia of collecting. Pour in a few millions into a climate controlled garage, hire a specialist to help you source and maintain the inhabitants of this palace and once in a while take out a particularly appealing model to drive around town. Of course you have to have the money in the first place but you also need the desire and commitment. That is something that can’t be bought. Whether you are in the market for a supercar or just a coffee cup with the logo on it, you have to be a collector at heart to make it work.
80
JUL 2015