COVERstory |
2015 Audi Q7
Our editor travels to Switzerland to test the new lightweight powerhouse
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16
Goodwood in detail
The region’s most comprehensive review of the Goodwood festival of Speed
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44
cover story
NEXT ISSUE
New Toyota Camry
32-37 2015 Audi Q7
Oman and regional news
6-9 ‘Street Nights’ wins Best Arts and Cultural Event prize of the Middle East, New Bosch systems boost car service turnaround, Appointment of Mohammed Al Fayyad, Ssangyong Tivoli arrives in Oman, Design XE Winners Visit Jaguar homebase, Audi to shine new light at Frankfurt, Oman TV’s Ramadan show has 8 Emgrand winners, Kia bags Kuwaiti government order for luxury sedans, Safety brings about changes in J.D. Power 2015 APEAL study.
brandwatch
10-14 Renault teases Laguna replacement, Caught in a dilemma?, Volkswagen confirms new crossovers positioned below and above Tiguan, VW looking at budget model segment, Turbo power for Lexus IS now, BMW to realign MINI brand strategy, Ford smart mobility gains momentum, Supercars going hybrid (Bugatti & McLaren], Toyota-BMW-Mazda sports car development update, Audi preparing to expand A3 family, Magna Steyr to build JLR cars, Mahindra bid for Italian design house rejected, Volvo buys Polestar, Giugiaro sells last shares to Audi.
International news
16-31 2015 Goodwood Festival of speed
56
first drives
38-43 2015 Jeep Renegade 44-49 2016 Lexus NX 50-53 2015 Hyundai Creta
Previews
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54-55 2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed 56-59 2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia 60-61 VOLKSWAGEN TCR GOLF CONCEPT 62-65 2016 MINI Clubman 66-67 2016 SsangYong Tivoli
Motorcycle Preview
68-69 2016 HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN
Techtalk
72-73 future Smart cars 74-75 child safety
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 F1, Moto GP, snippets
Chicane
80 The Toll rip-off
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
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EDITOR & GM Raj Warrior
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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
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It has been a rather hot and humid couple of months now, making up for the extended pleasantness we had at the beginning of the year. However, the summer has seen no let up in cars launching for the region, often in much more comfortable climes around the world. One such example is the Audi Q7, built on the next generation of the platform, with sharper styling matching an upgrade in systems and telematics as well as becoming significantly lighter. The other two cars that join this month’s cover story on the front of the magazine are two rather interesting and completely differentiated crossovers - with the Jeep Renegade bringing meaning to the term crossover by trying to be a 4WD despite its compactness and car-based platform, while the Lexus NX choses to endow the term crossover with power and sumptiousness, keeping its road-based underpinnings at the fore. The surprise addition is the Hyundai Creta, which is closer to the Renegade in terms of size, but which brings hints of a upmarket umwelt to the small crossover. Could it be a bridging model, perhaps a crossover of crossovers? The point is that the better realisation from taking a car platform into SUV territory is driving many more manufacturers into segments where they see customers aggregate. The runaway success of such a basic iteration as the Renault Duster itself has pushed the move of other small car manufacturers towards crossovers. Admittedly the India-launched Creta is designed for third world markets, although the pan-global success of the Duster and the EcoSport spell success for the formula. A world away from the worries of the price-sensitive small crossover segment, we feature the most comprehensive snapshot of the happenings at Goodwood. This annual pilgrimage for the petrolhead serves as much to highlight the fantastic heritage of motoring as it does to deliver new models to the European summer.
Website & IT Mohammed F Draz mohammed.draz@alroya.net
The second half of the year promises to stay on theme with many more SUV and crossover launches. September will see the glut of models that Frankfurt always promises, while we are also bringing our SUV Almanac to production phase.
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As buyers in the region already know, there is no such thing as having too many SUVs.
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Oman & region news
‘Street Nights’ wins Best Arts and New Bosch systems boost car service Cultural Event prize of the Middle East turnaround
Street Nights, Dubai’s unique event celebrating street-culture, won the prestigious Best Arts and Cultural Event of the year during the Middle East Event Awards 2015. The Middle East Event Awards’s panel of judges shortlisted six events in the same category and recognised Street Nights as the winner for the most outstanding art or cultural event. “We are truly humbled and honoured by this recognition especially when competing with other renowned world-class events. We thank The Middle East Event Awards for choosing us and we thank all our visitors, artists, participants and communities for their support. This award encourages us to continue to work in bringing unique and original content and develop street culture in the region,” said Alexandre Teodoresco, co-founder of Street Nights. “Nissan is extremely proud to have been the main partner of Street Nights that has been recognised with such a prestigious award. As a company that thrives to bring Innovation and Excitement to its customers, Street Nights was a great platform for us to launch our new Nissan Juke and offer a unique experience to our target audience,” said Katib Belkhodja, Deputy General Manager of Marketing at Nissan Middle East. Street Nights welcomes visitors of all ages offering street arts and culture, food, music and more. Street Nights at Al Quoz 2015 edition was in partnership with Dubai Food Festival, presented by Nissan and organized by Sphere Events.
Mohammed Al Fayyad General Motors has announced the appointment of Mohammed Al Fayyad as Director – Customer Care and Aftersales for the Middle East. In his new role, Al Fayyad will be responsible for leading all aspects of the Customer Care and After sales business, including vehicle servicing, customer service and support, wholesale parts, locally made batteries, supply chain logistics, and vehicle parts warehouse operations. “Driving customer satisfaction is at the core of what this team does, whether its ensuring customers receive a world class experience from their dealer when they have their vehicle serviced, through to making sure that car parts are delivered promptly so that customers can spent more time on the road and less time waiting for replacement parts and repairs,” said Mario Spangenberg, President and Managing Director for GM Africa and Middle East Operations. 6
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Motorists can get frustrated when told it will take up to two days to get their car serviced. Usually, high volumes of vehicles taken in at many of the bigger service centres spend much of the time in a queue waiting for their turn, often leaving owners without their cars. New technology applications are guaranteeing rapid turnaround of vehicles and workshops across the UAE are among the first to implement this system. UAE-based network of Bosch Car Service workshops are working to reduce the time needed for cars to be serviced. The Bosch Car Service Network of independently owned service centres in the UAE are among more than 70,000 worldwide using the industry leading Esitronic workshop software which makes a mechanic’s life much easier. It quickly helps to deliver troubleshooting and repair instructions, and mechanics are helped by regular user-friendly improvements and updates which give them access to current data for almost all types of vehicles. Separate software modules give mechanics comprehensive support to quickly handle the specific requirements of commercial-vehicle and bikes.
Ssangyong Tivoli arrives in Oman
The Tivoli B-segment crossover SUV is the first new model to be launched following the merger of SsangYong and India’s Mahindra & Mahindra. The new SUV is a result of 42 months of development and an investment of €280mn. The SUV was launched in the domestic market in January this year and now it is being introduced in Oman by the brand’s official retailer OTE. For the benefit of customers, the Tivoli has been put on display for a limited period in several of Muscat’s shopping malls. [eds note: see preview elsewhere in this issue of Automan].
Design XE Winners Visit Jaguar homebase
Audi to shine new light at Frankfurt
The winners of Jaguar’s Design XE competition from the region were taken on a trip to visit the design studios and manufacturing facilities at Gaydon. The competition was designed for university students from the region to design their own piece of art inspired by the Jaguar XE. Five winners were selected based on their creativity, technique and potential. The final winners were Ralph Hage, Mustafa Nachar and Caroline Haddad from Lebanon as well as Mahaba Abu Hatab from the United Arab Emirates and Murad Marouane from Morocco. A visit to the Jaguar Heritage Museum in Gaydon kicked off the trip as the winners got a closer look at the British brand’s unique collection of heritage vehicles. The artists also visited the Jaguar Design Studio and the Jaguar Factory in Solihull, spending quality time with the Jaguar Design Team and engineers.
The early announcements have begun in advance of the Frankfurt motorshow. However Audi’s news is rather pathbreaking while staying clear of defining models. Moving its lighting technology up a notch the brand has announced that it will debut Matrix OLED technology in the taillights of a concept car. What are OLEDs? OLED is an English acronym for “organic light emitting diode.” In each OLED unit, two electrodes – of which at least one must be transparent – incorporate numerous thin layers of organic semiconductor materials. A low DC voltage – between three and four volts – activates the layers, each of which is less than one thousandth of a millimeter thick, to light them. The color is based on the molecular composition of the light source. In contrast to point light sources – such as LEDs – which are made of semiconductor crystals, OLEDs are flat light sources. Their light attains a new level of homogeneity, and its dimming is continuously variable. The lights do not cast any shadows and do not require any reflectors, light guides or similar optical components – and this makes the OLED units efficient and lightweight. In addition, they hardly need any cooling.
Oman TV’s Ramadan show has 8 Emgrand winners
Kia bags Kuwaiti government order for luxury sedans
Oman TV’s reality show Al Rahla which was telecast during Ramadan, saw eight viewers win Geely Emgrand 7 cars. The show was produced by Lebanese impresario Bassem Christo and was sponsored by Towell Auto, the Chinese car brand’s dealer in the Sultanate. Mr. Riyadh Ali Sultan, General Manager, TAC comments: “We were privileged to be associated with Al Rahla, the flagship program of Oman TV. It was a reality competition show in which the participants had to answer general knowledge questions and the winners were awarded exciting prices. We gave 8 Geely Emgrand 7 cars as prizes to the winners during the course of this show. We hope the winners would enjoy their Emgrand 7s. Geely as a brand has established its credibility with its quality and efficiency and is extremely popular due to its state of art features and reasonable pricing”. 8
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Kia Middle East and Africa has won a contract to supply 60 units of the Kia Quoris to the Kuwait National Assembly. Alex Chung, President of Kia Motors Middle East and Africa Regional Headquarters, said: “It gives us great honour and pleasure to announce that Kia will be supplying 60 units of Quoris equipped with VIP Packages to meet the needs of the Kuwait government officials.” National Agencies Group will take on the responsibility of supplying the cars. The 420hp V8 engine powered Quoris reardrive sedan segment is offered with an extensive list of luxury standard equipment, world-class accommodations, premium driving dynamics and design.
Safety brings about changes in J.D. Power 2015 APEAL study The safety-related technologies that manufacturers are increasingly equipping their new vehicles with are making those vehicles more appealing to their owners, according to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released today. The APEAL Study, now in its 20th year, is the industry benchmark for new-vehicle appeal, examining how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive. Owners evaluate their vehicle across 77 attributes, which combine into an overall APEAL Index score that is measured on a 1,000-point scale. The overall APEAL score has increased by 4 points year over year to 798 in 2015. The study finds that some safety features can contribute to a significant boost in APEAL scores. For example, the overall score among owners of vehicles with blind-spot monitoring and warning
systems is 38 points higher than among those without them. “Unlike other technologies, such as voice recognition, that can be challenging to operate, most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. “Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall.” The Value of Blind-spot monitoring to customers The study finds that 36 percent of owners have blind-spot monitoring and warning systems in their vehicle (up 7 percentage points from 2014); 21 percent have lane-departure warning systems (up 5
percentage points); 46 percent have park assist/backup warning (up 4 percentage points); and 25 percent have collision avoidance/alert systems (up 4 percentage points). Furthermore, 69 percent of owners who have blind-spot warning systems and 62 percent with park assist systems indicate they use them every time they drive. Only 15 percent of owners say they have had previous experience with blind-spot warning systems, and only 39 percent say their dealer explained the feature to them upon vehicle delivery. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Tech Choice Study,SM consumers are willing to spend substantially more on vehicles that include certain safety features. For example, respondents in that study indicate a willingness to pay a market price of $750, on average, for blind-spot detection and prevention systems. AUG 2015
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Caught in a dilemma? Renault teases Laguna replacement Renault published a teaser prior to releasing the first details of its upcoming Talisman sedan which is set to replace the eight-year old third-generation Laguna. The new car will be presented to the public for the first time this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Talisman will take on models like Mazda6, the Ford Mondeo/Fusion and Volkswagen Passat. Reflecting Renault’s upmarket ambitions, the car borrows design cues from recent additions to the Renault family like the Espace and the Kadjar, while its rear end will lose the Laguna’s tall boot lid and benefit from a much more rakish D-pillar. Upscale trim levels will be fitted with a large tablet-like touch screen that will run Renault’s R-Link 2 infotainment system, leather upholstery and wood trim on the dashboard. Meanwhile, Renault claims that it collaborated with Daimler by asking them to check out the car’s quality control process. This mid-size model from Renault is being described by the company’s CEO Carlos Ghosn as a “refined sedan” while design chief Laurens van den Acker mentions it was “designed for quality” and they paid extra attention to fit and finish.
A smaller SUV or new sports car? These are the two questions that are under intense debate these days at Bentley. Bentley has officially announced they will have to make a decision regarding the next model to be added to their growing portfolio. Company boss Wolfgang Durheimer says Bentley will have to decide whether they will introduce a production version of the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept or a smaller SUV positioned below the upcoming Bentayga. He went on to specify Bentley is still a small company with limited resources so they can’t make both of them at the same time. Their next step is to investigate whether they “need” an SUV “one size smaller” than the Bentayga due to go on sale next year. The EXP 10 Speed 6 concept was introduced back in March at the Geneva Motor Show where Bentley billed it as a “sector-defining two-seater sports car.” They didn’t specify what was lurking underneath that sculpted bonnet, but with VAG as parent company, they have plenty of engines to choose from for a potential production model. Details about the sub-Bentayga model are not available at this point, but we do know Bentley only recently started thinking about a second high-riding model to join their first ever model of this kind which could use the smaller V8 as standalone or in some hybrid configuration.
Volkswagen confirms new crossovers positioned below and above Tiguan While China and some overseas markets can look forward to budget models, Volkswagen has confirmed plans to add two new crossovers to its global line-up in the years to come. This news came from Australia during the side lines of the Skoda Fabia launch. Volkswagen Group Australia managing director John White said VW will expand its crossover offerings by adding two new members, one positioned below the Tiguan while the other above it. The first one is expected to be a production version of the Taigun concepts and will be slotted in the growing subcompact crossover segment where it will compete with the Renault Captur, Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X and soon to arrive Hyundai Creta. As for the larger model, White specified it will be directed towards those who want a more stylish crossover rather than a highly functional high-riding model. Meanwhile, Volkswagen will unveil this fall the all-new Tiguan which will spawn a seven-seat, long-wheelbase version late 2016.
Automan’s Take
These new models could be an evolution of the 2013 CrossBlue Coupe concept and will be an upscale product with more luxury amenities.
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brandwatch Last month in Automan, we carried a news item on how VAG was to be restructured. Now, news is that Volkswagen will also look at a segment lower than it usually represents itself. In this respect, at least three budget models are planned. This information comes from Martin Winterkorn who told German media last month that the first budget model will be launched in 2018 and will cost between $8,989 -$11,236. While Winterkorn didn’t reveal technical details, but he did mention that the budget lineup will include a sedan, hatchback and crossover. Interestingly, all three models will be built in China and are aimed at Chinese consumers but Winterkorn hinted they could be exported to additional markets in the future.
news
VW looking at budget model segment
Turbo power for Lexus IS now After the success of forced feeding the all-new NX SUV and announcing the same for the new RX, the next model in the Lexus line-up to benefit from this technology application is the IS sedan. To be sold as the IS 200t, the 2.0-litre engine will deliver 241bhp and maximum torque of 350Nm. The engine benefits from a raft of innovations and technologies that secure, fast throttle response, instantaneous torque, minimal turbo lag and strong fuel economy. Key elements include D-4ST fuel injection and a water-cooled cylinder head with integrated exhaust manifold and twin-scroll turbocharger. Lexus promises rapid acceleration up to a top speed of 230km/h, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission that was originally developed for the RC F high-performance coupe.
BMW to realign MINI brand strategy At the world premiere of the new MINI Clubman in Berlin a few weeks ago, Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, RollsRoyce, BMW Motorrad and after sales also gave a significant presentation on how the brand will move forward in future. “Since its creation in 1959, the MINI brand has always stood for ideas, inspiration and passion. That will not change,” he said. While the Clubman will represent the symbol of the brand philosophy, MINI will concentrate on five core models with strong characteristics in future. “We will open ourselves up to new ideas and new business areas. We will develop the brand’s visual identity. We are expanding our offering into the premium compact class, which will attract new customers and avid MINI fans. I firmly believe that this comprehensive realignment will enable us to continue the MINI brand’s unique success story.”
Automan’s Take After the MINI relaunch under the BMW Group in 2001, sales increased fivefold in the first year. Today, annual MINI sales are roughly twelve times higher. MINI was the first brand in automotive history to set premium standards for the small car segment. Now, with the positioning of the MINI Clubman in a higher vehicle class, MINI will once again raise the bar for top-class design and high-end product substance, thereby gaining new customers. AUG 2015
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Supercars going hybrid
Ford smart mobility gains momentum
As hybrid technology evolves in the automotive sector at several product levels, it seems that even supercars are being considered for some kind of hybridization application. At least, two supercar makers have confirmed their intentions despite the limitations of cost and weight.
Ford Motor Company has announces the next phase of its Ford Smart Mobility program. Blue Oval says that it is moving from research to the start of implementation, including new strategic areas of focus, new pilot programs and new mobility product experiments. Following six months of gathering data and consumer insights, Ford is honing in on two strategic areas – flexible use and ownership of vehicles, and multimodal urban travel solutions. “We now are moving from experimentation to implementation,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO, speaking today at the annual Further with Ford trends conference in Palo Alto. “We have learned a lot in the past six months, and now are ready to put insights into action. Our goal is to make people’s lives better by helping them more easily navigate through their day, address societal issues and, over time, change the way the world moves – just as Henry Ford did more than 100 years ago.”
Automan’s Take Ford Smart Mobility is the company’s plan to deliver the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and big data. Ford introduced the plan in January, along with 25 experiments aimed at better understanding consumers’ mobility needs around the globe.
Bugatti As hybrid technology evolves in the automotive sector at several product levels, it seems that even supercars are being considered for some kind of hybridization application. At least, two supercar makers have confirmed their intentions despite the limitations of cost and weight.
Toyota-BMW-Mazda sports car development update
While co-development of the BMW Toyota progresses slowly, it seems that both parties have made further agreements on specific details of their shared sports-car platform. This was deemed necessary so that individual development could move forward. Efforts to design a midsized model with shared components, was progressing according to plan, BMW said in a statement. The codeveloped platform is expected to underpin BMW’s next-generation Z-series roadster, while Toyota is said to be considering a new model, potentially reviving the Supra nameplate, that will slot above the GT86/Scion FR-S. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports point to a hybrid all-wheel-drive system for both models, pairing electric motors with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine for a combined output of more than 400hp.
Automan’s Take As long as the architecture for the proposed car is flexible, it should allow both automakers to create individual characteristics that will not necessarily end up as segment rivals. We can safely assume that BMW’s Z4 successor would presumably be shorter than a resurrected Supra. 12
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McLaren McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt has confirmed plans to introduce an assortment of new hybrid models. Flewitt said he expects at least half of the company’s lineup will hybridized within ten years. He went on to say he’d hybridize the entire lineup “if I could get the cost and weight right” because “our strategy is to use technology to produce the best driving cars.” Flewitt declined to say when the next hybrid model will arrive but confirmed plans for a new Ultimate Series model that will slot above the 650S.
Automan’s Take McLaren only has two hybrids in its lineup, the flagship P1 and P1 GTR.
Audi preparing to expand A3 family The Audi A3 family is set to grow in the coming years with as many as three new model variants. Audi’s next-generation A3 is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2018. Globally the A3 range current includes a threedoor hatchback, a five-door hatchback, a two-door convertible and a four-door sedan. With three core models likely set to return for the next go-around, Audi is considering adding three new models when the range is redesigned in 2018 -- a high-riding crossover, a four-door coupe and even a sevenseater van. With the crossover market as hot as ever, Audi will look to tap the segment’s popularity with a high-riding A3 Sportback Allroad. Following the same general blueprint as the Allroad already for sale in Audi showrooms, the A3 Allroad would feature a raised suspension, added body cladding and a toughened running gear. Audi reportedly considered a traditional wagon body style rather than the Allroad treatment for the A3 but nixed the idea on the fear that a proper A3 wagon would cannibalize sales of the more profitable A4 Avant. Next up is a sleek-roofed A3 four-door coupe that will essentially stand as a four-door variant of the TT sports car. Tentatively called TTC, the four-door would offer a 2+2 seating arrangement and occupy the bottom rung of Audi’s sporty car lineup. It’s possible that Audi could eventually offer a two-door, convertible version of the TTC. Lastly, the next A3 could spawn a people mover aimed at vehicles like the BMW Gran Tourer. While such a model would never make it to the United States, Audi believes it could find some success in China.
Automan’s Take Audi could preview its upcoming A3 range with design concepts as early as this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Magna Steyr to build JLR cars Jaguar Land Rover has announced it has entered into a manufacturing partnership with Magna Steyr to build future vehicles in Graz, Austria. Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The UK remains at the centre of our design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Partnerships such as this will complement our UK operations and engineering.” With more than 100 years’ experience, Magna Steyr has extensive contract manufacturing expertise working with many car manufacturers globally. Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has doubled sales to more than 462,000 units and invested more than $15bn in new product creation and capital expenditure. The company has invested heavily in its UK vehicle manufacturing facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull to support the introduction of 10 all-new vehicles, including the Jaguar XE, Jaguar F-TYPE, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Automan’s Take With plans already in place to take Jaguar Land Rover’s three vehicle manufacturing plants in the UK close to their operating capacity, the collaboration with Magna Steyr makes perfect business sense.
Mahindra bid for Italian design house rejected An offer by Indian vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra to take over beleaguered Italian design house Pininfarina has fallen through due to opposition from some of the Italian car designer’s creditor banks. Expectations of a sale have recently fuelled gains in the shares of the loss-making Pininfarina group, famous for designing Ferraris and other luxury cars. But three or four banks have rejected Mahindra’s offer because it envisaged writing off half of Pininfarina’s debts of $97mn.While Pininfarina has declined to comment, it is expected that Pininfarina will now seek to agree a new debt restructuring.
Automan’s Take Pininfarina was founded by Battista “Pinin” Farina in 1930 and has been employed by a wide variety of automobile manufacturers to design production vehicles and concepts. These firms have included long-established customers such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Fiat, GM, Lancia, and Maserati, to emerging companies in the Asian market with Chinese manufactures like AviChina, Chery, Changfeng, Brilliance, and JAC and Korean manufacturers Daewoo and Hyundai.Until early this decade, the company also manufactured vehicles under contract for various marques. For 10 out of the past 11 years, though, Pininfarina has run at a loss. AUG 2015
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Volvo buys Polestar Volvo Cars has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, the Swedish high performance car company, including the rights to the Polestar brand. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high performance Volvos. Volvo and Polestar share a long history. They have been working in motor sport since 1996 and in recent years signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop Polestar versions of Volvo cars that combine a comfortable Volvo driving experience with a very high level of power and handling. “Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars. Polestar will also in future utilise Volvo’s twin engine electrification technology to develop next generation performance cars. This year, Volvo expects to sell 750 Polestar versions of the V60 wagon and S60 sedan globally.
Giugiaro sells last shares to Audi Giorgetto Giugiaro undoubtedly stands among the great automotive designers of the 20th century, having penned the original Volkswagen Golf and Delorean DMC-12, among many others. However, the great stylist is now longer an employee or even an owner of the company that bears his name. According to latest news from Europe, Giugiaro and his son, Fabrizio, sold their remaining 9.9 percent of Italdesign Giugiaro to Audi last month. Furthermore, both resigned from the business the following day. While, the exact reason for the two executives isn’t very clear, a statement in local media said that Giorgetto Giugiaro wanted “to dedicate more time to his personal interests.” Italdesign Giugiaro remains open and intends to keep growing, though, the same announcement asserts.
Automan’s Take After stints at design houses like Bertone and Ghia, Giugiaro founded Italdesign in 1968. He created some masterpieces including the signature ‘70s wedges like Maserati Merak and Lotus Esprit. The 2000s weren’t so kind and 90.1per cent of the company was sold to Volkswagen Group in 2010. Former Audi design boss Wolfgang Egger took over styling duties there in late 2013, but he only lasted for about a year, leaving in late 2014. Since the sale, Italdesign has continued to produce work like the hybrid Gea concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show Giugiaro’s designs are still highly prized, as well. 14
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It’s hard not to get excited about the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed which is held in summer. It involves racing cars old and new flying up the hill at top speed mingling with stars of motorsport from across the globe. And top that with stunning new car displays from almost every major manufacturer . This year was no exception. Automan brings this comprehensive report from Lord March’s fabulous estate throughout the weekend Author: Chandan B Mallik
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International
American Muscle @ Goodwood
This year’s edition saw the largest participation in the history of the event from American motor sport, with an increased presence from the NASCAR fraternity in particular along with debuts from two exciting series never before seen on UK shores. Legendary NASCAR team Richard Childress Racing returned with one of Dale Earnhardt’s #3 Chevrolets. Also in attendance was 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte, who made his first trip to Goodwood in a current-spec Chevrolet Impala SS. In an interesting duel, Labonte used the SS to face-off against Michael Waltrip Racing’s Toyota Camry Cup car driven by Goodwood favourite and touring car legend Anthony Reid. Mike Skinner, the inaugural champion of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 1995, was seen in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup that has been customised for the demands of hillclimbing, rather than US ovals. Richard Petty, the self-styled ‘King’ of NASCAR with arecord seven championships and 200 race victories also returned to the Festival of Speed. This year he brought the Plymouth Superbird in which he won the 1970 title and which inspired his character ‘The King’ in the Disney movie ‘Cars’. Drag racing’s godfather, Don Garlits, known throughout the sport as ‘Big Daddy’ and the first man to surge past 320km/h over a quarter-mile, was seen in one of his fabled ‘Swamp Rat’ dragsters. Robby Gordon’s Stadium Supertrucks also made their debut in a new and improved Activities Field. Baja legend Gordon – also a race winner in Indycar and NASCAR accompanied seven-time US off-road champion ‘Ballistic’ BJ Baldwin with his Endurance Trophy Truck.
AC Shelby Cobra 427 Competition
AC Shelby Cobra Le Mans
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Bienville Legacy
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M1 Valentin Yamaha YZR-
Motorcycles
Valentino Rossi made his Festival of Speed debut on a Yamaha YZR-M1. Rossi later took to the course in the Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B, a Group B Lancia Delta S4, and a Group C Porsche 962 in quick succession, to rapturous applause from the crowd. Former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner was offering demo runs of Honda’s MotoGP bike for the road, the RC213V-S. The unusually metal and wood crafted $250,000 Bienville Legacy rolling sculpture made its debut at Goodwood. The Legacy starts out with a 185hp 1,650 cc Motus MV4 engine but a supercharger boosts that to about 300hp. On face value, the Bienville Legacy is a weird, vastly overpowered and visually shocking motorbike with a completely unique suspension system AUG 2015
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RACING HERITAGE 1977 Jaguar XJS Trans-Am
1999 Toyota Celica Pikes Peak
1970 Surtees -Cosworth TS7
1983 Jaguar XJS TWR
1974 Jaguar E-type Group 44
1986 Lancia Delta S4
2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1975 Suzuki XR14
1986 Rover SD1 Vitesse TWR
2000 Lister Storm GT1
1975 Triumph Dolomite Sprint
2000 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-T
1988 Peugeot 405 T16 GR Pikes Peak
1976 Jaguar XJ12C Broadspeed
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1989 Ford RS200 IMSA GTO
2001 Ford Focus WRC
2003 Opel Astra V8 Coupe
2015 Mini ALL 4 Racing
Darracq 200HP
2009 Holden Commodore VE
2015 Peugeot 208 RX
Mors Grand Prix
2011 Mitjet Mini Pikes Peak
Audi R18 e-tron quattro
Nissan GT-R
Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
Napier-Railton Special
2013 Toyota Camry
Auto Union Type D Doppel Kompressor
Rover SD1 Vitesse TWR
2015 BMW M4
BMW 328 Roadster
Star Gordon Bennett
2015 Lambo Huracan Super Trofeo
Bolster Special Bloody Mary
Talbot Lago T26C Chambas Coupe
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7hp with BSA Colonial 6decar County Taxi Si
Goodwood: Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance The Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance celebrates 20 years at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year with an astonishing display of exquisite automotive machinery across seven classes. To mark the 60th anniversary of the ‘Goddess’, the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance included a special class for the venerable Citroën. The entries included a wide variety of versions including rare Cabriolets and the ‘Le Paris’ Coupe. There was also a class dedicated to Joseph Figoni’s designs, each of which was brought by American collector Peter Mullin from his fabulous museum in Oxnard, California. Among them was Figoni’s most famous of all, the Talbot Lago Teardrop Coupe, which was not surprisingly awarded ‘Best of Show’ by the judges. These included Apple chief designer Sir Jonathan Ive and musician Roger Taylor of Queen fame, who also owns a sizeable collection of classic cars. The Cartier Style et Luxe also included a class for modern interpretations of legendary designs. A class for 1990s supercars boasted a rare Jaguar XJ220 Prototype with a proper V12 fitted in place of the twin-turbo V6 used for the production model. It was also interesting to see a Triumph Dolomite lined up alongside the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 it was ‘inspired’ by.
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with BSA Gold Flash r Busmar Sideca
Luxe Cartier Style et ance eg El d’ rs Concou 3 06 46
tta Evanta Barche
r Vignale Ferrari 212 Inte Coupe
Vignale Ferrari 330 GT ake Br ng Shooti
McLaren F1
rfast
Ferrari 500 Supe
Squire 1500
Figoni Delahaye 135M
hi Delahaye Falasc t le io br Ca
Cabriolet Ferrari 250 GT
Lusso Ferrari 250 GT
Ferrari F40
50C SS Talbot Lago T1 op Teardr
Ferrari P4 by 5 Pininfarina
by
ite triumph dolom
r
Eagle Speedste
Ferrari 250 GT Coupe
Zagato
Jaguar XJ220
V12
ni
Voisin C27 Figo Cabriolet
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Alfa Romeo
a mid-mounted, transverse four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive but will get the bigger “K24” 2.4-litre power unit. The biggest difference compared with the Atom is increased ground clearance and suspension travel, facilitated by a switch to outboard-mounted springs and shock absorbers. The buggy’s approach angle is 71˚and maximum departure angle is a practically trail-rated 82˚. Alpine M65
Alfa Romeo Tipo B
Alpine
Also 60 years old this year is French sports car manufacturer Alpine and the proceedings were appropriately by event host Charles Lord March, who made the very first run of the weekend in the latest Alpine Celebration Coupe.
aston martin
Arash Aston Martin CC100
Alpine A106
Arash AF8 As always, the Festival of Speed featured the dynamic debut of a wide variety of machines, including several British sports cars. Although already seen last year, we got a closer look at the AF8. Alpine A108 Interlagos
Aston Martin DB9
Ariel Aston Martin DBR2
Alpine A110 1600S Ariel Nomad
Alpine Celebration Coupe 24
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At last year’s edition, Ariel showcased two bespoke motorcycle concepts and this year it was the debut of an ultralightweight new off-road buggy called Nomad. Visually, related to the Atom, but the Nomad is also substantially different. It has a similar exoskeletal structure made up from welded tubing, but it incorporates substantial rollover protection. The Nomad shares the Atom’s combination of
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf
Aston Martin Rapide
audi
Aston Martin Ulster Also on display was the Ulster which has an interesting story behind it. In the age before the introduction of roll-cages and fuel-cells the differences between competition cars and road cars was negligible. Many owners were able to take their road cars out to the tracks in the weekends and be competitive. This win on Sunday, sell on Monday principle was crucial for Aston Martin’s business years throughout the company’s formative years. A 1-2-3 class victory for the works team at the 1934 Ulster Tourist Trophy at Dundrod inspired the Feltham, UK based company to name their new highperformance model after the event; the Ulster was born. Interestingly, an Ulster bearing chassis # LM19, sold for a recordbreaking £2.9 million.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
Aston Martin Vulcan Aston Martin organized the world debut of the new DB9 GT and UK debut of the Vantage GT12. Also on display were historic models and concept cars like the Vulcan -- the British brand’s track-only limited to 24 unit production 800-plus bhp carbon fibre cladded supercar shared space with the other models in the line-up. Born out of extensive motorsport experience and using the brand’s acknowledged flair for design and engineering ingenuity, the car is set to usher in a new era.
Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
BAC Bentley Continental GT Speed
BAC Mono 2.5 BAC introduced the 2016 Mono to the world at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with an unofficial road car record-breaking run on the famous hillclimb. With a series of runs comfortably sub 50-seconds, and a fastest time of 47.9sec, the Mono is able to compete with many dedicated racing cars. The car already has an impressive list of records to its name. It is officially the second fastest road legal car around the Top Gear test track, with a time of 1:14.3.In recent testing at the Hungaroring circuit. Driver Oliver Webb revealed just how fast the Mono is, as it lapped the circuit in 1:55, 9.5 seconds faster than a Porsche 911 GT3, 7 seconds faster than a Ferrari Speciale and an incredible 4.5 seconds faster than a McLaren P1. The car features an all-new 2.5-litre Mountune four-cylinder engine producing 305bhp [up 25bhp on the previous 2.3-litre Cosworth engine] and it weighs in at just 580kg giving an incredible 526bhp per tonne.
Bentley Speed Six ‘Blue Train Coupe’
BMW
BMW 328
Bentley
Bentley 4.5 Litre Blower Le Mans Tourer
BMW i8 AUG 2015
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bugatti
Darracq This bare bones car had some oomph to offer! In fact, this V8 200hp Darracq clocked 109.65mph on the public road in 1905 and a year later it reached 122.5mph at Daytona Beach!
Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet Usine
Ferrari
Bugatti Type 39 35B
Citroën DS 23
Ferrari 250 MM
Bugatti Type Type 43 44 Figoni Roadster
Citroën Ferrari 312 T4 Citroën DS 23iE Berline
1957 Citroën DS 19 Berline Ferrari 488 GTB Citroën DS3 Cabrio
1968 Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet Usine
Ferrari California T Citroën DS3 WRC
Citroën Cactus 26
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For the first time at Goodwood there were separate stands for Citroën and its subrand. The newly launched ‘DS’ marque showcased new models including the facelifted DS 3 and new DS 5. The chic DS Divine concept was also on the stands, a design study that previews styling for the next generation of DS models.
Ferrari F12 TRS
Fiat
Ferrari FXX K Fiat S.74
Ferrari-312-P-Berlinetta As always, Goodwood offers a perfect setting for both classic and modern Ferrari machines. At the Michelin Supercar Run saw the latest generation of hugely potent track-day specials from Ferrari. Making their dynamic debut was the latest addition to the Ferrari XX program -- the 1,00bhp hybrid FXX K which is based on the LaFerrari. Historical cars included the Ferrari 312 P Berlinetta which has an interesting history of how it came about. Throughout the 1950s and well into the 1960s Ferrari was extremely successful with evolutionary sports racing cars. The V12 for example in the 330 P4 Le Mans racer of 1967 was still closely related to very first Ferrari engine designed some two decades earlier. The gradual development had resulted in bullet-proof machines that dominated sports car racing for many seasons. In 1966 the small manufacturer finally lost their Le Mans stronghold to the might of the Ford Motor Company. Despite valiant efforts, the 1967 edition again was a prey for the American manufacturer. Shortly after the race the sport’s governing body, the Commissione Sportiva Internazionale (CSI), announced drastic rule changes that rendered Ferrari’s cars obsolete for the following season. Enzo Ferrari was furious at the sudden changes and announced that his cars would not compete in the 1968 World Championship. Building a brand new car would take up considerable resources and Ferrari felt it was better spent on the ailing Formula 1 effort. So the team sat out the championship in 1968 for the first time in many, many years. The 3.0-litre V12 engined 312P finish second behind a Ford GT40 on its first outing at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1969.
Fiat S.76
Maserati Ghibli
This year Goodwood witnessed the first public appearance of the fire-breathing 300hp 28-litre engine Fiat S.76. The car’s owner Duncan Pittaway admitted he had not dared to try to run the car on full throttle! Also S series models were also seen. This land speed record breaker was being driven in public for the first time in more than a century. Just two S76s were produced by the Italian manufacturer, with the aim of snatching the records for the flying kilometre and flying mile from the ‘Blitzen’ Benzes. The S76 achieved the mile record with Pietro Bordino at the wheel at Saltburn Sands in 1911 and was officially recorded at over 135mph on a kilometre attempt at Oostenede in Belguim, only to be denied the record as it was unable to complete a return run within the specified one hour. While one car was dismantled by Fiat after the First World War to prevent rival manufacturers obtaining its technical secrets, the other was purchased by Russian aristocrat Boris Soukhanov and eventually made its way to Australia, where it was modernised and campaigned it as a ‘Fiat Racing Special’.The racing S74 from 1911 powered by a 14.2-litre four-cylinder that won the 1912 US Grand Prix, in the hands of American Caleb Bragg was also put into action.
Ford
Lancia Delta S4 Ford Fiesta RS
Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3S
Lotus 43 BRM
Ford Focus RS200 Pikes Peak
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Infiniti
Ford GT40
Jaguar XJ13 Infiniti Q50
Ford Mustang Hoonicorn
Jaguar had four Goodwood debuts this year. The all-new XF saloon graced the stands for the first time in the UK. The recently revealed Jaguar XJ facelift was also on show, alongside the XJR Bloodhound rapid response car and the limited-run F-Type Project 7 production car.
Koenigsegg Infiniti Q70
Ford Mustang
Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti brought three concepts to Goodwood. On the stands were the Q60 Concept, the Q80 Inspiration coupe and the QX30 crossover concept that will hit showrooms at the start of 2016.
Koenigsegg Agera
Jaguar
Ford RS200 IMSA GTO Koenigsegg One 1 Jaguar D-Type Works Longnose
Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R Besides showcasing some of its racing and muscle heritage from UK and USA, Ford use the event for the first UK public appearance of the new Ford Focus RS. The Focus RS is the first Ford RS AWD model equipped with selectable Drive Modes (including a Drift Mode that allows controlled oversteer drifts) and launch control. Meanwhile, Ken Block was once again putting the 845bhp Roush Yates Ford V8 engine in his custom-built Mustang to good use, indulging in some extreme tyre-shredding out on the course. 28
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Jaguar F-Type R
Jaguar Project 7
The hyper 1,500hp Koenigsegg Regera [launched this year at the Geneva Motor Show] was seen in the supercar paddock for the first time. Like the Aston Martin Vulcan, the Regera has some astonishing numbers, the most impressive being the maximum torque of 2,000Nm and 410km/h top speed.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini Aventador SV
The Aventador Superveloce coupé version made its UK debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed and was on static display and also seen running ‘up the hill’ with Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann in attendance.
the crash. Hoshino was driving chassis 001 of the car that scored a win in the GTP class of the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car suffered major damage.
McLaren
Lexus Mazda FD RX-7
McLaren 570S Lexus RC F European dynamic debut of the Lexus GS F took place. This is Japan’s answer to the BMW M4. The RC F is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 that’ll kick out ‘more than 450bhp’ and a monstrous soundtrack guaranteed too!
Lotus Lotus unveiled its brand new 3-Eleven racer at Goodwood for the first time. It’s a whole new level of performance for the Norfolk-based firm and its fastestever production car, with a 443bhp supercharged V6 and sub-900kg kerb weight.
Maserati
Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale
MAZDA
Mazda 787B
Mazda MX-5 An important year for Mazda, as it was one of the featured prestigious marques. To mark the occasion, the Japanese manufacturer has assembled a spectacular line-up of the company’s rotary engined sports racers. The headlining machine is undoubtedly the Mazda 787B, which scored the only outright victory for a Japanese car maker at Le Mans back in 1991. The victory for the howling Nigel Stroud designed Group C racer was many years in the making and was the result of a perfectly executed preparation and strategy. The very first of the Nigel Stroud designed Mazdas was the 757, which debuted in 1986. Powered by a three-rotor engine, it won its class at Le Mans in 1987 and 1988. Mazda’s North American arm also brought over several of its cars, which were kept in full running order and are a regular sight at the Monterey Motorsports at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The most successful of these is the purposebuilt RX-7 GTO. Powered by a four-rotor engine, this Lee Dykstra designed machine won the IMSA GTO Championship in 1991. The fire-spitting RX-7 GTO was also raced at Le Mans in 1994, where it placed second in class. After the successful 1991 season, Mazda stepped up to the GTP class with the RX-792P. The car was raced in the 1992 and 1993 season but ultimately failed to score an outright victory. The RX-792P is also a regular in the Motorsports Reunion where it has been raced every edition since 2009. Sadly, a Mazda 767B race car from 1989 was involved in a crash during the relatively incident free event. The rotary engine-powered machine was performing a timed lap with Seniji Hoshino behind the steering wheel when the accident happened. Luckily, he managed to escape the race car with only minor injuries and was able to walk away from
McLaren 650s GT3
McLaren What certainly captured our eyes was a rare sight of one of three McLaren F1 GTs ever produced. This car was commissioned by a Japanese collector and is one of just two delivered to a customer. Rarely seen, chassis 58F1GT was loaned to McLaren by the owner. McLaren also displayed its current line-up including the 570 S. However, McLaren’s loudest display at Goodwood was the track-ready P1 GTR hypercar.
mercedes benz
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Benz 200hp Hornsted
Mercedes 60hp
Mercedes-Benz W196
Nissan Juke R 2.0
While among the many anniversaries celebrated was the 60th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with seven of the eight existing cars in attendance. It was one of the most impressive sights of seven Mercedes-Benz 300 SLRs, joined at one end by a pair of the similar W196 Grand Prix cars the sports racer was based on. All but one of the existing chassis were represented to celebrate the 1955 World Championship winning effort, highlighted by Sir Stirling Moss’ famous Mille Miglia win.
Making its world debut at Goodwood this year was the Nissan Juke R 2.0. As the name suggests, this is the second version of the GT-R powered Juke originally created back in 2011. In its latest guise, it has 600bhp and in the hands of Jann Mardenborough was quicker than most thoroughbred supercars up the hill. Mardenborough also set a very impressive time at the hill climb. Meanwhile, Terry Grant’s incredible stunt driving never failed to impress, tackling the entire 1.16mile course in his Nissan Juke Nismo on just two wheels. With deft steering inputs, Grant managed to keep his Nissan tilted over at a faintly unbelievable angle the whole way up to – and even beyond – the finish line!
MINI
Pagani
Mercedes Grand Prix
Mini Cooper Countryman ALL4 Racing
Mercedes-AMG GT
Pagani Huayra
peugeot MINI JCW
Nissan Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Peugeot 404 Diesel
Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 63 AMG 30
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Terry Grant’s incredible stunt
Peugeot 405 T16 GR Pikes Peak
Peugeot
Plymouth
deficit, Porsche fielded heavily modified, Turbocharged 917 Spyders. These all conquering 917/30s are still the most powerful racing cars ever constructed and maybe more importantly taught Porsche valuable forced-induction lessons. Among the absolute highlights at the show was the celebration of Derek Bell’s fabulous career on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the first of his five Le Mans wins with the 936. Bell won for a second time in the Porsche 936 in 1981 and the actual winning car was brought to Goodwood for fans to enjoy. In terms of modern machinery, the event saw the UK debuts for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Cayman GT4 and Boxster.
sunbeam
Renault-Alpine A442B
Toyota
renault 1970 Plymouth Superbird Toyota Camry
porsche Renault-Alpine A442B
Rolls-Royce
Toyota Celica GT-Four ST185
Porsche 997 GT3 RSR MR
Rolls-Royce Wraith
Porsche Cayenne S
Porsche-936 With two Le Mans wins in their bag and the 917 no longer eligible, Porsche decided to turn their attention to highly popular Can-Am racing series in 1972. Having to make up for a considerable displacement
Toyota Celica Pikes Peak
Plymouth
Subaru Impreza WRC The hill climb shoot-out was won by Olly Clark in his very special 780hp Subaru Impreza, known as the Gobstopper II, which featured very large wings.
Toyota Celica Pikes Peak We didn’t spot any new model from Toyota this year and the brand rolled out the stunning FT-1 sports car concept from 2014 once again. Toyota also displayed a collection of GT 86s with classic racing liveries, as well as a stunning 2000GT on its manufacturer stand. Meanwhile, on the dynamic section, the Camry NASCAR Anthony Reid was driving appeared to be struggling with grip during the hill climb event, perhaps due to the usage very hard oval tyres still fitted. AUG 2015
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2015 Audi Q7
Lightweight champion Automan attended the global ride and drive of Audi’s Gen II 2015 Q7 SUV in the iconic mountain region of Verbier, Switzerland and returns impressed Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Supplied
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t has taken Audi six years to get the successor of its Q7 SUV to market and this aspect is quite unusual considering the pace at which Audi is able to produce new cars these days. However, for every situation there’s a reason and Audi’s reason for the delay is more to do with personnel responsible for the project besides the extra time required in introducing a new engineering application. It’s no secret that during the Gen II Q7 development process, Audi changed its development chief twice and as a result in both cases the project was re-examined. Interestingly, the incoming Q7 happens to be the pilot vehicle for the second-generation MLB architecture. MLB is extremely important and significant for the VW Group as it is designed to be uses for many future models from Audi, VW, Bentley, and even Porsche. So, what do we have here? For starters, the all-new 2015 Audi Q7 represents a great leap in the way Audi has evolved the SUV for its second innings. While the Gen I Q7 was also designed from ground-up on a platform [PL71] shared with Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, the SUV has had a secured career till now. Now, Audi thinks is the right time to take it to the next level. By building this incoming SUV on its new MLB-platform, it has been able to use aluminium intensively and the migration 34
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has aided Audi engineers to knock off around 235kg of weight even with an increased in wheelbase and shortened overall length. The result is that the car gets its wheels pushed to the corners more than its predecessor and also helping in the new profile is the narrowed track. With a curb weight of just 1,995kg as in the 3.0 TDI), Audi claims the new Q7 is the lightest in its class and it is 325kg lighter than the
It took Audi six years to get the successor of its Q7 SUV to market which is quite unusual considering the pace at which Audi is able to produce new cars outgoing model. With its lightweight, multi material body construction and an all-new chassis, it is comfortable while at the same time offering the typical performance of a sporty Audi - and that with top-notch CO2 values. Audi engineers have reduced the fuel consumption of the Q7 by as much as 28 per cent in the (TFSI) and 23 per cent in
the (TDI). In the looks department, the new car’s profile is similar but sheetmetal treatment is different. The new design has shed the soft, rounded and organic lines in favour of more angular lines. It now comes with softer crease lines up front on the mudguard and rear D-pillars. We think the new Q7 designers avoided bolder creaselines as they seem to be using them a lot in the new SEATs [sister VW brand]. The new vertical grille and new cluster headlamps come with LED DRLs. The rear end treatment is quite different than before and seems to be inspired by modern MPVs more than SUVs. Overall, it looks good, but won’t be considered as a stunner! The interior is designed as a three-row vehicle with seating for seven. The second row is electrically operated and folds flat to create the extra cargo. And for the first time, six child seats can be fixed in the car. The car’s interior has been redesigned to optimize space and the exercise begins with the sleek dashboard with full digital display, a pop-up tab which serves as the multimedia infotainment display, thinned out doors [pads to help create more space] and a nice use of stitched leather and combination very high quality trim materials. Touch points exhibit premium luxury quality.
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At launch, two new V6 engines will be offered with all-wheel drive. The 3.0-litre TDI with 272 hp and the 3.0-litre TFSI with 333hp accelerate the new Audi Q7 from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 secs (TFSI) and 6.3 secs (TDI), respectively. The diesel V6 consumes on average just 5.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometres, corresponding to 149 grams of CO2 per kilometre (239.8 g/mi). The engines set top marks in the segment of large SUVs. Transmission is 8-speed automatic with Tiptronic. In terms of packaging, new driver aids and safety kit are among the key highlights. The car features second-generation modular infotainment platform along with virtual cockpit. The new MMI all in touch control unit comes with large touchpad at the base of the central console. Other innovations include the expanded services from Audi connect, the Audi tablet for the rear seat passengers and the two sound systems with 3D audio [Bose and Bang & Olufsen depending on trim]. Smartphone integration with Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is also new. Audi says the new Q7 is one of the first cars worldwide to offer these functions. Audi says it has completely reengineered the suspension, changing front and rear components from double wishbone to a multilink architecture. Driving impressions Most of the drive was done in the Alps region of Verbier beginning from the hanger at Sion airport right up to the world famous Verbier ski resort situation at a height of 1,531m above sea level. This big SUV has a cd value of just 0.32 and the first thing noted is that it has extremely well
managed NVH levels. On the move, this car almost eerily quiet even at highway speeds with very little windnoise. The TSFI engine is quite powerful in torque delivery and along with the automatic gearbox, work seamlessly in tandem and we didn’t note any turbo lag eithers. As part of the driving dynamics package, several menu driven options are available and when the Sport
The second-generation MLB architecture on which the Q7 is based is extremely important and significant for the VW Group as it is designed to be used for many future models from Audi, VW, Bentley and even Porsche or Individual mode is selected, the engine mapping, gear holding pattern and steering weight change. Most of the driving was done on motorways and winding mountain roads in and around Verbier. The car feels confident with it brilliant chassis set-up. Despite its size, there’s no tendency of wallowing and the mass of the car isn’t felt. It also feels faster than the quoted figures. The gear selector, when pushed forward all the way, no longer selects park but
reverse. The “park” button is integrated in the joystick like in a BMW and unless mastered, will frustrate many new owners so one has to get used to this system pretty fast. In normal driving conditions, the torque split is tail-happy 40:60, but if conditions demand, the front end can take up to 70 per cent of torque while the rear can cope with up to 85 percent. The center differential is supported by ABS and stability control, which keeps the car in line by ever so slightly decelerating the wheels closest to the apex. The turn radius of this car has been reduced, thanks to the rear wheels also aiding the steering effort. Meanwhile, the lower centre of gravity and redesigned suspension ensures that it feels positively transformed and livelier. It is both comfortable and agile. The coolest feature that we experienced during the drive was the application of semi-autonomous systems, especially the predictive efficiency assistant. In this set-up, adaptive cruise control works with Google Maps and traffic-sign recognition technology to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking manoeuevres. The diesel variant is also a delight to drive with extremely impressive acceleration qualities. Compared to the petrol TSFI, there’s a minor turbo lag, noticeable only in sharp uphills or very fast corners. Verdict The new Q7 is much more luxurious and competent. The wagon-like styling will take time to sink in. At the same time Audi will also be looking at a new price point as Ingolstadt thinks that it does merit that increment.
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2015 Jeep Renegade
Spirit of a rebel With the all-new Renegade, Jeep enters into the compact SUV segment once again with lot of hope and promise. Automan was able to check out this car prior to its official introduction in the region Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
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J
eep’s smallest members in the lineup till now have been the Compass and Patriot models. Fiat Chrysler has confirmed that Jeep’sCompass and Patriot will eventually be replaced by a single new model in 2016-2017. The as yet unnamed future crossover is currently known internally as project ‘Compatriot’. While this is happening, Jeep has been looking at new opportunities to widen the brand’s portfolio, reach and reassert its positioning within the SUV/4x4 communities worldwide. The brand has taken several steps in this direction and is also looking at the three-row top end luxury segment with an all-new model which could revive the Wagoneer nameplate. In the interim period, the entry level is being served by the Cherokee and now the Renegade. The Renegade is an allnew product derived from the Fiat 500X underpinnings. Since it is using a bin part, the challenge for Jeep engineers was to create a vehicle with all the refinement, quality and usual amenities found in an on-road biased lifestyle crossover on one hand while also being capable as a genuine level of off-roader Jeep on the other. The first thing that we noticed about this 40
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Auburn Hills, Michigan, US designed and engineered, but produced in Melfi, Italy Jeep Renegade that it comes with the benefits of both worlds. In dimensions, it strongly suggests its European origins and the 14ft long SUV rides on a 101.2in wheelbase which means it is roughly 16in shorter overall than the Cherokee. Yet, the Renegade is actually wider by an inch, thanks to its boxy profile. In design, it has a unique boxy look, as
The Renegade, manages to look like no other car but at the same time is unmistakably a Jeep do the Nissan Juke, Kia Soul, and Mini Countryman but it has been endowed with unique detailing features like an upright, seven slot grille, prominent headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches. Surprisingly, designers chose to give the car upright A-pillars [as opposed to the rakish trend these days]. The car’s unmistakable X-shaped taillamps are inspired by the ‘gas can’ carried on
the back of the original Willys Jeep, and the cross is another theme found throughout the car. One is pleasantly surprised when inside the car. Upright styling of the A-pillar has certainly paved the way for dividends in terms of generous head room, commanding views besides shielding the front occupants from harsh sunlight. Hip points are quite good ensuring ease of entry/egress. The cabin appears quite spacious due to several things. First there’s no attempt to clutter things, rather a minimalistic approach has been adopted. Plastics and trim material used appear neither cheap nor luxurious and fit and finish are mission appropriate. There’s lot of practicality built in the car. There are plenty of cubbies about the Renegade interior and the removal of a handbrake lever in favour of an electric park-brake has allowed two cupholders in the centre console besides a map of the Rubicon trail embossed into the front storage pocket. All Renegades get a fold-flat passenger and second-row seat to maximize cargo space when needed. Meanwhile, front seats are nicely designed but seem to be scaled down a bit when compared with similar models in the segment. A bit of
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extra lumber support is always welcome. Interestingly, there are no small controls and most of the switches and TFT touchscreen are skewed to the right of centre and remain within easy reach of the driver. Everything from the windscreen pillars to the grab handles are substantially sized. While they’re large and depict ruggedness, we didn’t find the huge A-pillars obstructing our blind spot view. Head and leg room are quite generous. The car will accommodate five adults with ease despite its diminutive appearance. In terms of trim levels, there is some differentiation. A grey-and-orange interior colour scheme is available on Latitude and Limited models, while the trail-rated Renegade Trailhawk has an available black interior with contrasting trim pieces in bright, anodized red. While essential drive controls are placed around the gear shifter console, we did note some quirks that remind us that the old school of thought hasn’t entirely been abandoned. The model we tested came with Tiptronic [automated manual] feature with a dedicated M slot for downshift [forward direction] or upshifts [backwards]. On several modern cars, this arrangement plus the facility to allow the driver to manually shift gears from the steering wheel using paddle shifters is quite in vogue. However, the Renegade continues to use buttons for radio functions behind the steering wheel where you would normally expect the paddle shifters to reside. A quirky bit of archaic design in a modern car definitely is out of place! That’s not all. Jeep interior designers also need to get rid of the pseudoleather boot from the base of the gear shifter as these days it is redundant and secondly we found it obstructs the gear indicator light. For the interiors we can say that it will be a pleasant surprise for those drivers who prefer simplicity over hi-tech gadgetry. While instrumentation is pretty straight forward and comprises of analogue speedometer and tachometer with brightly coloured splash to mark redline. Vertical-dot scales are used for temperature and fuel. The central trip computer/display is 3.5inch on lower trims, a reconfigurable 7in full-colour screen on higher trims. Other practical aspects seem to have been well thought of. The cargo floor at hatch-opening height is a removable panel that can [except in Trailhawk] be stowed a few inches higher for dual-load decks. The space beneath can accommodate roof panels or small
items, and a temporary-use spare is available for most, a full-size for some. Cargo capacity is 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 50.8 behind front seats. A solid [as opposed to roll-up] cargo area cover is offered and 40/20/40 rear seat with a cargo pass-through is optional. While the Renegade will be offered with several diesel and petrol engines, the Middle East versions will be offered with the bigger normally-aspirated 180hp/ 175 pound-feet of torque 2.4-litre fourcylinder Multiair2 engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The extra gearing has been provided with fuel efficiency in mind. The Renegade comes standard with front-wheel drive, but because it’s a Jeep, there are two optional four-wheel-drive systems. Jeep Active Drive is the one underneath most Renegades and uses four settings (Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud) that tailor the four-wheel-drive system as well as the transmission shifting and steering effort to specific conditions. It’s an all-wheeldrive system that allows the Renegade
Jeep is enjoying the benefits of being, arguably, the most perfectly positioned brand in the automotive universe right now to operate as a front-wheel-drive vehicle most of the time, but when the system senses slip could occur, it feeds torque to the rear wheels, too. The off-road-ready higher spec Renegade Trailhawk model uses a unique four-wheel-drive system called Active Drive Low, which offers an additional “Rock” mode that allows it to crawl more easily over low-speed terrain, as well as hill-descent control, which uses the braking system to slow the vehicle automatically on slick off-road declines. There’s no active suspension set-up, but four-wheel strut-type independent suspension employs high end Koni shock abnsorbers. Safety packaging is quite strong out here as Jeep offers comprehensive equipment which is not even offered in some class-larger products. The car comes with blind-spot and rear crosspath warning, vehicle alarm and keyless entry/start, forward collision warning
with collision-mitigation braking, lane departure warning with correction (both with adjustable parameters) and rear park sensors. All these, besides the standard kit like ABS, stability control among others. Driving impressions For a small crossover that’s also designed to take in a 160hp 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the normally-aspirated 180hp 2.4-litre four-cylinder MultiAir2 engine seems well suited for the job. While, the bigger engine offers 20hp more but less torque than the turbo, so it feels a bit slower initially. It’s no secret that the Renegade isn’t the lightest in its class but it is significantly lighter than a Cherokee. This is evident from the electric assist power steering feel which is slightly on the heavier side, but the flip side is that the car always feels just as stiff and solid as that of the bigger Cherokee. The car exhibits excellent body control, road manners and also offers reasonable ride quality for the segment it represents. While the steering isn’t fast, but is easy to manoeuvre and hence tight turn-ins are precise and manageable. Road and wind noise is well controlled and the large mirrors only begin to generate wind noise usually in excess of the recommended highway speeds. The engine and transmission work seamlessly with appropriate gear holding and matching revs. There’s plenty of torque available and most of the time the SUV feels stress free. Since the SUV is built on the Fiat 500X platform, its handling is very much like its European cousin. But where it differs, is when you take the Renegade for say beach duties. We dialed in the ‘sand’ setting and used manual gearshifting mode. We were happy to note that this small Jeep felt as capable as anything short of a Wrangler in our off-road sojourn and were able to extract the very best out of the powertrain. Compared with swift action/ reaction of a sports sedan, response to manual shift changes are slow. Overall, the Renegade offers firm, fun and willing performance if not the fastest thing around. Braking performance is good and we are happy to observe there was no indication of fading. Verdict The Renegade might be the most affordable model in Jeep’s line-up, but from behind the wheel, it’s easily one of the best to drive. AUG 2015
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2016 Lexus NX
BoostED to the th NX Degree The global entry level premium crossover SUV segment is hot and Lexus wants to get its share of the lucrative pie with the all-new 2015 NX. Should segment players like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo be worried? Automan tested the F Sport variant in Oman and evaluates its possibilities Author: Chandan B Mallik |Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
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he Middle East market as we all are aware is a good place to buy a SUV or 4x4 and most auto giants have presence in this region with multiple offerings. If you’re in the market for a premium medium-sized SUV with real space, an inviting interior, sumptuous seating and exquisite build quality along with all the bells and whistles you would ever need, then there are just a few brands that would qualify. In fact, in this fast growing luxury compact crossover segment, premium European brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo are dominating the show in this realm. So, when a traditional rival from Japan like Lexus decides to make its entry in this segment, fireworks can be expected and here’s why. The Lexus LF-NX was introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt and Tokyo Motor Shows respectively in concept form and the first public debut of the production version took place at the 2014 Beijing auto show. At first glance, it’s clear to which styling family it belongs when you consider the other SUV models in the line-up. While it has the family resemblance of the bigger RX, style cues, we note are bursting all over in the NX along with some interesting design features and the now familiar Lexus spindle grille.Although, the Lexus NX is shorter than the RX, it is 9.7in wider and 1.5in lower which gives it its standalone stance and visual presence. The car’s sheet metal comes with dominating angular character lines and complement the sharp trapezoidal headlamps which support the thin strip of LED DRLs under it. Our tester was the top-of-line F Sport model that will
Lexus seems to have gone overboard with technology in the NX and as is the case with several Lexus or Toyota products that we are familiar with, the 2.0-litre turbo setup features its D-4S system that uses both direct and port fuel injection be sold in Oman. The F Sport version gets its own stylistic treatment and has nothing to do with enhanced performance. Extras that come with the NX F Sport include a unique front bumper with mesh grille insert, metallic trim, LED foglamps with cornering lamps and 18in rims. For its edgy profile, the drag co-efficient of Cd 0.33 indicates form comes with functional benefits also. Although, the NX would be seen as a lifestyle model, we note the C-pillar is angled with practicality in mind. It was done to optimize internal storage width, allowing items like bags to fit sideways in the cargo area. Inside, it’s typical Lexus, but the NX goes one step further with its feature pack and array of innovative on-board technology. A Lexus first includes wireless
charging for mobile phones, new remote touch interface with a touch pad and comprehensive multi-information Display, including a first G sensor and boost meter [in F Sport trim] and coloured heads-up display. As always, the instrument panel is almost perfect, chock full of clear icons on buttons. The F Sport’s injection-molded seats are brilliant and front occupants get command view. The Drive Mode Select dial is located on the centre console. In terms of powertrain and forced fed technology applications, Lexus is relatively a new player. This specific technology application was once a domain monopolised by smaller, higher-end niche European players like Saab and Volvo. Lexus finally joins the turbo bandwagon with its specific agenda of trying to optimize performance and efficiency in one package. Many may not be aware that the Japanese automaker has been working for over a decade to develop an engine that could meet these contradicting demands. The twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-litre 8AR-FTS set-up features its D-4S system that uses both direct and port fuel injection. This unusual arrangement according to the manufacturer has been incorporated to offer both high- and low-pressure injection results in optimal efficiency at all engine speeds. And then you have VVT-iW technology, which is also new for this engine. ‘W’ indicates a wider range of intake cam timing control which allows the timing to be advanced or retarded as required and it also means the engine can run in both Otto and Atkinson cycles, switching seamlessly. This engine uses 10.0:1 compression ratio and gets as AUG 2015
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much as 17 pounds of boost from a new turbocharger. Interestingly, Lexus opted to develop and manufacture a brand-new turbocharger in-house using Toyota help instead of sourcing them from any of the well-known suppliers like Honeywell, BorgWarner or Mitsubishi. A maximum of 235hp is produced between 4,800 and 5,600 rpm and torque of 258lb-ft comes in between 1,650 and 4,000 rpm. This engine is mated to an improved 6-speed transmission. This aspect strikes as being odd, as most of the new models in the segment are offering 8-speed transmissions these days. However, it seems Lexus engineering focus has been to optimize fuel efficiency and hence priority has been to incorporate solutions in the engine department to achieve this objective. And technology starts with the cylinder head, which boasts water cooling and is combined with an integrated four-into-two exhaust manifold to bring the turbocharger as close to the intake induction system as possible and to split the engine’s exhaust into pairs that feed into the twin-scroll turbo. Similarly, the liquid-cooled intercooler is an integral part of the engine. Lexus claims that engine was bench-tested for more than 10,000 hours before its road testing for 960,000km. The intake system draws carbon vapours away from the crankcase, allowing 16,000km between oil changes. NX models are offered as front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. However the AWD systems employed are different in the 200t and hybrid versions. In the 200t, it uses dynamic torque control system which varies front/rear torque between 100/0 and 50/50. For the F Sport, Lexus claims it gets sporttuned suspension which uses MacPherson struts up front with high-rigidity components and low-friction moving parts and newly designed trailing arm double wishbone at the rear with coil springs and dampers as key hardware. Safety equipment includes eight airbags with sensors to detect crash severity and deploy at appropriate speeds in front, four-channel ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, back-up camera with dynamic grid lines, side impact door beams, tyre pressure monitoring system, and vehicle stability control with traction control. Driving impressions In our careers, we’ve driven turbocharged, supercharged cars and cars with combined turbo-supercharged engines, cars with experimental engines, but till now, never experienced a set-up that uses two types of fuel injection systems. From the 48
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moment the start button is activated, the four-pot turbo seems instantly ready for action and within the first few kilometers of the drive one begins to realise that the throttle feel is different. And depending on which mode the car is set up, the electronic mapping guide the output response. In Eco mode, as expected the throttle response is a bit subdued, but the gear shifting is faster. In Sport + mode, there’s extra torque boost and gears hold a little longer and in Sport++ mode the car can be driven a bit more aggressively in the mid- to top end rev [3,700-4,000rpm] band. Our F Sport badged NX gets a numerically higher final-drive ratio for a bit more responsiveness from standstill but in real time, the engine needs a little more time get into its mid-range powerband before it releases its full potential. For an engine that boasts of a host of technologies [like port and direct injection working in tandem together], for a driver
The new 6-speed sequential automatic transmission gets an improved torquedemand control logic which calculates required engine torque and optimises it for quick response and also ensures fuelefficiency at all times and occupants means smooth idling and a relatively quiet cabin. However, when you push the throttle after engaging the transmission, you do get to hear a bit of the turbo whine filtering into the cabin. Turbo lag is hardly noted and the car is able to move effortlessly. The secret to the transmission’s claimed improved performance is the logic control for the torque converter which Lexus says it has revamped. As a result, the transmission always appears be in the correct gear, switching ratios while calculating the required engine torque and helping it maximize for quick acceleration even when it runs in eco mode. While, we liked the paddle shifter operation in default mode, we were a bit disappointed with the shifts in sport mode because it overrides and kicks down gears without asking even in manual mode and when this
happens the downshifts aren’t as crisp as one might expect from an F Sport badged model. While, the car in general is quiet inside the cabin, the turbo hum can be heard which tells us that this is not your regular Lexus. Some wind noise may filter in the cabin and tyre noise is hardly noticeable. The way the car’s exhaust note sounds when you floor it you will expect it to be faster, but its sprint time of 0-96km/h in about seven seconds doesn’t suggest that it is sluggish either. It’s a reasonable figure to stand by considering the segment standards in general. The potential performance of this car, we think, is little restricted due to the sixspeed automatic transmission. While, a greater spread of gears would allow Lexus to employ a numerically higher final gear ratio, thereby increasing the
impression of torque when the driver pushes the car from standstill. On the other hand, adding extra gears also adds complexity and can introduce other drivability issues like gear hunting at mid-range speeds. We are now convinced that Lexus chose six gears on purpose and not just because that’s what it had available. Some improvement is definitely needed from the manufacturer’s end in order to ensure perfect and delightful performance. We are pretty sure Lexus has more plans with this car on a performance level as it gains its foothold in the segment. Having said that, the weight and feedback of the electric power steering is quite delightful in straight line, but the NX can feel heavy and a bit of a handful when it comes to handling tighter turns. While the F Sport has a firmer suspension
than its stock counterpart, there’s some evidence of body roll and we think it can be rectified by stiffening the suspension a little more. However, it doesn’t impact the ride which is just as comfortable. For a vehicle that has been presented as a dynamic athlete, it can be fast and confident in a straight line, but given a decent twisty road situation it can feel a bit nervous. But, overall, it has pleasing manners but we think its road compliance can be improved with a better choice of wheel/tyre combination. That the NX was designed to be capable for light off-road or sand duties duty was proved via its wider stance, increased ramp-over angles and decent ground clearance. We had no issues with the car in either off-road scenario. Brakes are sharp, linear and show no signs of fading.
Verdict The 2015 Lexus NX is a new luxury compact crossover SUV that comes with hot styling and loads of futuristic technologies. The F Sport model with body kit takes this model even further. Overall, it represents a new segment value proposition for the brand. Our only reservation is that the traditionally conservative in its approach brand has conceived a product that hits the right spot when it comes to over all packaging, but it may be considered by many as being over engineered. We are pretty sure that we will see more new buyers and cross shoppers considering the NX in the region. Yes, the European brands finally face a formidable challenge from Japan in terms of content and packaging.
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2015 Hyundai Creta
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yundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and is also the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in India. Several global models are produced in India and the latest global model launched is the Creta, the South Korean brand’s smallest SUV so far. In the line-up the Creta will serve as the entry level SUV and will sit under the Tucson. As a crossover, the Creta is built on the Elantra’s platform and since it is a global model, its design is based on Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. Hence has more than a passing profile 50
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resemblance with its bigger sibling, Santa Fe in particular. The Creta very much like its siblings conveys a sportier, more athletic appearance with more sharply sculpted lines. Dimensionally, it measures 4,270mm in length, 1,780mm in width, 1,630mm in height, and sports a wheelbase of 2,590mm. These figures suggest that it should be as spacious as the Renault Duster or Nissan Terrano. But the 4,270mm long, 1,780mm wide, 1,630mm high on a wheelbase of 2,590mm Creta will actually compete with the likes of Nissan Juke, Ford EcoSport among others. At first glance it seems that Hyundai has premium aspirations with the European
flavoured Creta. Not just that it shares a similar profile and proportion of the bigger Santa Fe but the kit that has been used in detailing the car. Key evidence of such a measure can be found in things like projector headlamps with DRLs, diamond-cut alloy-wheels, bold roof rails and liberal usage of chrome accents all around. As a crossover, in its construction, Hyundai engineers have used what it calls ‘Hive structure’ in ensuring the body shell is not only rigid but also safe. Special steel structures have been applied at B-pillar, C-pillar and engine bay which helps to achieve high body rigidity, improved durability and crash performance.
Catering to a New
World
Hyundai Motor launched its compact global SUV, ‘Creta’, in India late last month. Automan is among the first in the region to get a feel of this new arrival. From India, we present this exclusive report Author and photography: Faisal Khan
Being a crossover also has given engineers and designers some scope for innovation as in practice a lot of component sharing is evident in this type of project. Interestingly, Hyundai has been able to raise the entry level benchmark in the cabin by offering material and trims usually reserved for entry luxury vehicles. The cabin is definitely a step up in the segment, even though it still has a lot of fabric and plastic components. The car sports a neat but uncluttered two-tone layout with some practical SUV kit like cubbyholes, two coffee-cup holders near the gear lever and bottle holders on all four door pads. Dials and air-con controls have been borrowed from the Hyundai
Elite i20 and it seems to match the rest of the décor. Overall, the interior is built well and Hyundai claims that it has used best in class materials. View from inside the SUV is good as the raked A-pillars are relatively thin. Seats are in generally well padded and comfortable, and will accommodate average-sized and tall people quite well. Smaller occupants might have difficulty getting comfortable due to the limited adjustability of the manual seats. The Creta is feature loaded and the topspec variant gets touch-screen music system, navigation, climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, keyless entry and start-stop button. Hyundai is offering
leather seats with contrasting stitching in the top end variants. Higher variants sport a 7-in touch screen infotainment system with navigation. Versatility is one of the Creta’s strong points with thoughtful touches that attempts to maximize space and comfort in the given packaging. In terms of accommodation, front passengers have generous head and leg room and the rear bench offers enough knee room and headroom for two adults, but it is a little cramped for three adults. Cargo space is 400-litres. Rear seats come with 60:40 split [only on the automatic currently] which allows better flexibility and more storage space. AUG 2015
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Driver gets comprehensive instrumentation in Hyundai’s water flow inspired dashboard but there is no distance to empty feature. The only niggle is that the steering wheel only offers height adjustment. Depending on markets worldwide, the Creta will be available with a 121bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine and a pair of turbodiesels displacing 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre respectively. Both diesel come with variable geometry turbo and the latter produces 126bhp. While a lot of segment contenders have opted for continuously variable transmission (CVT), Hyundai has not fallen for the idea and hence all engines will come paired with a six-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Automatic will be offered with the 1.6 diesel – the first diesel-automatic in its segment. Sporting 190mm ground clearance, the car rides on 215/60 R17 tyres. Suspension set-up is pretty standard – Hyundai thinks there’s no need for an independent rear suspension and hence it uses a simpler torsion beam setup instead. Safety equipment on top models includes 6 airbags vehicle stability control, traction control, ABS and hill descent control. Driving impressions We were able to sample both petrol and 52
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The compact crossover SUV segment is growing fast and Hyundai’s strong engineering platform has allowed it to create this new global SUV Creta [ix25 in China] using the i20 as the base diesel variants. And the first impression is that the Creta is a pleasant SUV to drive. The SUV’s diesel engine is a nice piece of machinery as it is barely audible at idling and feels stress free even at highway speeds where it feels mostly comfortable at 2,500rpm or so. While the 126hp/260Nm 1.6-litre diesel motor offers lot of torque [once past the low-end lag], it seems that the pairing with automatic transmission has made it slower. However, we note that the best performance can be extracted from the turbo by pushing it over 2,000rpm.
Meanwhile, the transmission does have a Tiptronic feature but even in this manual mode, downshifting appears to be restrictive as the mapping doesn’t allow the engine to over rev. As a result, to expect acceleration characteristics like a sporty sedan is not to be expected, instead one needs to getting used to and plan accordingly when it comes to things like overtaking and quick lane changes. It would have been nice if Hyundai would have introduced a Sport mode wherein access to extra torque would have been possible. This we are convinced was done in keeping fuel efficiency and emissions in mind. The flip side is that the cabin remains relatively quiet for the class which indicates the efforts gone in NVH management. In terms of handling it certainly doesn’t feel like a car on stilts or with limited handling capabilities. The suspension setup on the Creta is soft and on asphalt the ride is smooth but a bit of body roll is evident when put into fast pace. The steering feel is typical Hyundai which means it weighs up at high speeds and also around corners, but can feel numb off-centre. Braking from the disc-drum combo feels adequate and no fading was noted. On the contrary it manoeuevres through
tight quarters well and the steering and suspension are tuned to offer responsive handling yet it is stable at higher speeds. Ride quality is good, with the suspension filtering most of the imperfections out of the roads. Comfort, in general for the occupants doesn’t suffer, whether in urban driving or on the open road; for short treks, as well as long journeys. The standard 17in wheels and tyres appear well-suited for the ride quality. In
our experience, slightly larger 18in wheels and tyres could help provide sharper handling. Verdict With sharp styling, lots of standard equipment, and practical packaging, the all-new Hyundai Creta has all the elements to impress. Good looks aren’t everything, of course. Capability is important and Hyundai’s impressive new
entrant shines brightly on several fronts. As striking as the new design is, the Creta also delivers the goods in terms of comfort, performance, and overall ability. Buyers also get an abundant selection of standard equipment, even on the base model. The good news for Middle East is that this vehicle is destined for our region and should be a boon for consumers looking for a genuine alternative to the generally considered mundane segment. AUG 2015
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2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed
T Bentley upgrades its Continental GT family of coupes and convertibles with a host of interior and exterior upgrades for the current model year Author: Chandan B Mallik
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wo upgrades in a year by any automaker would certainly raise eyebrows amongst observers and aficionados. However, Bentley has assured all that the second revision of the GT Speed is part of an overhaul of the entire GT line-up and the new add-ons are the result of the standard Continental’s mid-cycle facelift. Well, it’s an interesting agenda to follow, specially in this model series. So what’s on offer? In short, the programme is aimed at sharpening the on-road presence of the GT Speed which has adopted the visual enhancements that are existing in the standard GT, but several unique details make it stand out as the most quick and powerful member of the GT family. The detailing includes a new front bumper combines with a smaller radiator shell and new, more pronounced mudguards which now incorporate a new vent, complete with the brand’s “B” adornment. The Bentley “power line” that flows rearwards from the front arches is much stronger than before and new bright chrome mudguard badges for the V8 S and W12 models now match those applied to the GT Speed. At the rear of the car, the boot lid is now more sculpted, with a pronounced
aerodynamic profile to the trailing edge. The rear bumper has been reshaped and widened for an added sense of power, and now features full-width brightware. The V8 S and GT Speed also gain a new rear diffuser design to further differentiate the performance-focused members of the Continental family. The revisions to the exterior aesthetic are completed with the addition of new wheels to the range of 20in and 21in designs available. The standard wheel for the GT V8 and GT W12 is a new 20in painted wheel for the V8 and bright machined for the W12. The Mulliner Driving Specification wheel adopts a new 21in seven-twin-spoke design, finished in Graphite grey with bright machined spokes. Finally, a new 21in five-spoke directional sports wheel joins the existing 21in design available for the V8 S and GT Speed. Complementing the above, three new paint colours are available: Marlin, Camel and Jetstream. The cabin also gets its share of upgrades which are evident from the straightfluting pattern on seats, while the Mulliner Driving Specification (standard on GT Speed) gains a tightened, “smalldiamond” quilting pattern. Driver controls are all-new, with an optional, more ergonomic and sports-orientated
steering wheel and larger gear-shift paddles incorporating tactile knurled metal embellishers. Brightware elements across the console are updated, the driver’s instrument panel receives new dials and graphics for a refreshed, more contemporary look, and the beauty of the new interior is now illuminated by LEDs. The centre console also features a new black gear lever surround, unifying the style of all driver controls. For V8 and V8 S coupe models, a new hidden storage compartment is fitted between the rear seats, capable of accommodating and charging electronic devices including iPads. In addition to the changes to the standard specification, a new range of optional interior features are also available and both GT W12 and GT Speed models can now be specified with new leather options. Furthermore, the headlining of GT V8 S, GT W12 and Speed coupe models is now available in Alcantara®, colour matched to all 17 of the available interior hide colours. Onboard WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car is also now available across the Continental family. Three changes have been made in the
6.0-litre twin turbo W12 powertrain. Firstly, the engine receives a power and torque increase, from 567bhp and 700Nm 582bhp and 720Nm. The power upgrade is accompanied by improvements to fuel economy of up to 5per cent. The GT W12 now includes
Barely a year since Bentley introduced a soft update for the Continental GT Speed comes another interesting upgrade for the brand’s fastest production grand tourer ever a variable displacement system and the new evolution is able to run at part throttle on six of its 12 cylinders to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing refinement and offers lower CO2 emissions of 329 g/km and combined fuel economy of 14.1l/100km. AUG 2015
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2016 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa Romeo now introduces the all-new Giulia performance sedan with some help from Ferrari. Its ability to tempt traditional buyers will be interesting to watch Author: Chandan B Mallik
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t’s no secret that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles boss Sergio Marchionne has an ambitious programme for Alfa Romeo. Marchionne has promised to make Alfa Romeo a serious competitor to the German premium brands in terms of acceptance and also volume sales. With the US being targeted by the group as its largest market for all FCA brands, Alfa Romeo is planning a full assault with a line-up consisting of the 4C sports car, a full-size sedan, a pair of SUVs, a second midsized sedan, another 4C-style model, two compact cars. One third of FCA sales should come from Alfa Romeo in the coming years according to Marchionne. The starting advantage Alfa Romeo has 56
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that it has a historic legacy which it thinks can leverage with the right products. The latest model to be revealed is the rear wheel drive 2016 Giulia sedan which is aimed at the trio of Germans -- Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. And the new Giulia will also represent the brand’s aspiration as a global model. Interestingly, Alfa Romeo produced two generations of the Giulia [105 series] sports sedan between 1962 and 1978. In fact, Alfa Romeo was one of the first manufacturers to put a powerful engine in a light-weight car for mainstream production, which accounted for its immense popularity. The last Giulia was the 159 which was discontinued in 2011.
From the specifications that have been released, it seems Alfa Romeo is pretty serious in its intentions with the incoming third generation. Officially revealed on June 24, 2015, the incoming Giulia was shown with the highest “Quadrifoglio” specification. The timing of the launch of the Giulia has significance as it arrives 105 years after Alfa Romeo, which was established on June 24, 1910. In its development, Alfa Romeo engaged its ‘Skunk Works’ group – a selection of engineers who were given 150 days to design and develop this car. The design of the car suggests that it will come with a front face unlike anything else seen on an Alfa Romeo. Signature features
will include sleek headlamps extending toward the nose and a massive split intake in the lower valance. The traditional Alfa Romeo shield-shaped grille will adorn the centre piece and is set in an aggressively designed bonnet. The styling is less radical around the rear, but equally aggressive. While, the taillamps seem reminiscent of the 159, everything else was designed with sportiness in mind. There’s a subtle spoiler on the boot and oversized bumper houses a diffuser and quad-pipe exhausts. Interior details haven’t been detailed, but renderings appearing on the net suggest a cabin with elegant and simple design. More than design, it’s what’s under the skin that should really matter because the
Giulia is a midsize, rearwheel-drive Alfa sedan that will go on sale sometime next year and kick off a series of three new models that are to arrive by the end of 2017 and a total of eight new nameplates by 2018
premise for the new car has been based on five key features or elements -- it had to be cutting edge and technically savvy, feature new engines, offer class-leading power-to-weight ratio and have 50:50 weight distribution. This means out of the box, the incoming Giulia will arrive with strong street and possibly track-oriented credentials in top spec. To achieve these aforementioned business objectives, in its construction, the rear-wheel-drive car uses a mix of steel, aluminium and resin composites to help optimize power to weight without losing any of the benefits associated with torsional rigidity. A hybrid aluminum composite/plastic rear subframe is used AUG 2015
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besides carbon fibre in the bonnet, roof, seat frames and driveshaft. Aluminium is used in the engine, brakes suspension, doors and mudguards. All Giulias employ a carbon fibre drive shaft and aluminium shock absorber towers. In spite of the weight savings, Alfa says the body has the torsional rigidity to deliver the desired handling and ride qualities as well as provide reduced noise levels for the drivers. The engine line-up is to include turbocharged six cylinder and four cylinder petrol engines built in FCA Italy’s Termoli plant. The 503hp 3.0-litre six cylinder for the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio [cloverleaf] variant is a Ferrari-developed, all-aluminium, 90° V6 featuring cylinder deactivation and is currently used by Maserati. The Quadrifoglio version is also fitted with a torque vectoring type rear differential. A six-speed manual or dualclutch automatic transmission is offered. Along with a state-of-the-art suspension comes a full-on torque-vectoring system
Marchionne wants Alfa Romeo to succeed as the crowning achievement of his leadership of Fiat and Chrysler before he retires in a few years. Fiat Chrysler is investing US$6bn in an attempt to turn this money-losing brand into a profitable one with two clutch packs that can send the power to the rear wheel with the best traction and it speeds up the turn-in
afforded by what Alfa promises is the most direct steering setup available. On the aerodynamic front, there is an active front splitter that changes position to ensure optimal downforce and a “DNA” drive selector that allows the driver to choose between Advanced Efficiency, Natural and Dynamic modes. The top V6 version according the Alfa Romeo is capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.9secs. These figures suggest the car should be a bit quicker than the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63, while being at least 200lbs lighter than both. According to Alfa, the Giulia QV has a weight-to-power ratio “remarkably lower” than 3 kg per PS, which means the sedan tips the scales at less than 1,530kg. The braking system uses carbon ceramic rotors, six-pot front and four-pot rear calipers, and auxiliary rear calipers for the parking brake. Electronic stability control and the traditional brake servo are combined in a single electromechanical system.
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VW Golf GTI TCR Concept
Volkswagen Motorsport is developing its first racing car based on the seventhgeneration Golf exclusive for international Touring Car championship. Automan has the details Author: Chandan B Mallik
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he TCR International Series [TCR] is a relatively new development in motorsports and its marketing ploy is that it presents itself as a cost-effective spin-off of the WTCC. As a race series, it is targeted at C-category tin-top racing cars. The idea of this championship came from former World Touring Car Championship 60
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boss Marcello Lotti. The title TCR follows the naming convention now used by the FIA to classify the cars that compete in touring car racing, with TC1 referring to the top tier as used by the FIA WTCC and TC2 referred to the legacy cars which principally compete in the FIA ETCC. As the idea catches up, car makers like Volkswagen and its technical partner the Liqui Moly Team Engstler are in the process of developing a car based on the current Gen VII Golf. The productionbased, high output 330PS concept car is being made in accordance with TCR regulations and is intended to help Volkswagen evaluate a potential customer racing programme from the 2016 season onwards. Volkswagen Motorsport is developing the car in cooperation with the sport department at SEAT, its sister brand in Spain. SEAT has extensive track experience with the Leon Cup Racer series. The track-oriented Golf will be tested under competitive conditions between now and the end of the season. Liqui Moly Team Engstler will run two cars at the eighth round of the Touringcar Racer International Series (TCR) at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. “The newly created TCR category provides a promising platform for customer racing – on a national
and international level. With exciting races, production-based technology and reasonable costs, it offers a new outlook for private racing teams,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “When developing the Golf-based concept car, we are able to fall back on the resources at Volkswagen. This reduces both development time and costs. We will also use the rest of the season to test the car under competitive conditions and evaluate a possible customer racing project from 2016.” Visually, the car gets some kit approved by Volkswagen Motorsport like 18in racing rims, a modded MQB chassis [roughly 40cm wider than that of the production Golf] and a striking rear wing. An aerodynamically designed front splitter and carbon rear wing are also among the modifications for the racetrack. The front and rear bumpers feature large intake vents inspired by the Vision GTI concept from 2013. These are further augmented by a carbon-fibre splitter and a towering rear wing. , a racing seat with harnesses, and a minimum of carpet, interior plastics Among the components designed to protect the driver are a full safety cage, racing seat with harnesses and head protectors and a safety tank in accordance
Created to evaluate Volkswagen’s possible participation in the new Touring Car Racer International Series (TCR), the Golf TCR concept is less “concept car” than full-blown, ready-to-race race car. with FIA regulations. Under the bonnet there’s a high output 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine from the Golf R, DSG gearbox with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. The forced fed engine comes with direct fuel injection similar to that what comes in the Golf R. The racing version of this engine generates 330PS and 410Nm of torque. To help accelerate its development process, the concept track car will be tested under competitive conditions at the remaining four race weekends in the international TCR series. Liqui Moly Team Engstler will take responsibility for running the car during the remaining test phase. AUG 2015
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2016 MINI Clubman
MINI has addressed the Gen I Clubman’s quirks and for 2016, presents a much refined and conventional version Author: Chandan B Mallik
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he first new MINI Clubman was introduced in 2007 as a variant of the MINI hatchback by BMW Group. In its styling it was designed for more practicality and hence the estate/wagon type presentation. Although, the idea was interesting from the brand’s perspective, its execution wasn’t entirely perfect for the purpose it was created. A second generation Clubman was announced in 2013 with internal model code F54 and a concept version was unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Gen I Clubman was based on the then MINI platform and modified for the job description. As a result it was identical to the two-door hatchback from the B-pillar forward. In dimensions Gen I Clubman’s length was increased by 240mm on a stretched by 80mm wheelbase. For Gen II, MINI has chosen to based it on the actual Mini five door model which itself is
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a beneficiary of the same platform as the BMW 2-series Active Tourer. This helped engineers increase rear-seat leg room and deepen the cargo space area. More or less the same formula has been adopted for creating Gen II, but the incoming car is bigger than the one it replaces. With a more appropriate base to start work with, MINI engineers have been able to create a genuine four-door wagon with six doors if you count the two at the rear! While more conventional in its proportions, it appear longer, lower and wider. In fact, it is longer, lower, and wider than the Countryman, and it is much larger than the four-door version of the regular MINI. Pertinent key exterior changes include the replacement of solitary right-hand side suicide door with four doors. The split tailgate doors have been carried over and can be optionally operated hands-free to
give access to 17.5c-ft of cargo space or as much as 47.9c-ft with the split rear seats folded flat. The car also sports the largest taillamp in the line-up. Inside, the new Clubman comes with a unique and entirely new dashboard and instrument panel. As with MINI tradition now, choice of LED ambient lighting is offered in a premium material interior with new interior trim choices available to that effect, including diamond-shape quilted Burgundy or Indigo Blue leather patterned after a classic English Chesterfield sofa. For the first time in a MINI, the Gen II Clubman will have a standard electric parking brake and electric seat adjustment. A standard 6.5in or optional 8.8in screen displays navigation, infotainment and phone information. A head-up display is optional, as is the driving assistant system with camerabased active cruise control, collision and
The wagon version MINI takes advantage of a better defined base and is loaded with a host of latest efficiency-oriented technologies and is now more conventional in its approach pedestrian warning, road sign detection, and parking and high-beam assistance system. The brand’s Connected in-car infotainment system is also optional. Under the skin, the Gen II Clubman gets most of its technology applications from the Hardtop version as well as BMW’s
2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer. This means like the Hardtop, the Clubman will be offered with a choice of threecylinder Cooper and four-cylinder Cooper S variants. The turbocharged three-cylinder makes 134hp and 162 lb-ft and can be paired with either a six-speed manual or
a six-speed automatic. The turbo four is good for 189hp and 207 lb-ft and transmits its power to the front wheels via a sixspeed manual or a new eight-speed automatic. On the performance side, selectable driving modes and dynamic damper control are also new options.
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2016 SsangYong Tivoli
SsangYong’s first new global model under India’s Mahindra ownership in the crossover B-segment SUV is the Tivoli which will also be sold in Oman Author: Chandan B Mallik The compact crossover segment is getting fiercely competitive and it seems to offer a lot of potential to innovative carmakers. Within a year, there has been a plethora of such vehicles hitting the markets worldwide and the Tivoli is the first all-new SsangYong product to come 66
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out from South Korea based automaker after the Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra took a 70per cent controlling stake in the Korean company back in 2011. SsangYong hopes this new arrival will help propel the brand into the minds of a whole new group of global car buyers. Resulting from 42 months of development and an investment of €280mn, the Tivoli prototype was developed and tested extensively prior to its official announcement in November 2014 and thereafter revealed in concept form as project X100. The production version was launched for the domestic markets in January this year followed by phase-wise introduction in other markets where the brand is represented. The new crossover gets its name after the Italian town of Tivoli, Lazio, and was chosen because it can be read as “I lov it” in reverse. SsangYong’s philosophy of ‘Robust, Specialty and Premium’ development has been applied whole-
heartedly in the new car. As a result it gets European flavoured contemporary design and is mechanically based on an all-new platform. It uses unibody monocoque construction and packaged with class leading levels of safety, interior space, equipment and options. Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, recently introduced Hyundai Creta among others will be its key rivals. Pleasantly proportioned, the car is 4,195mm long, 1,795mm wide, 1,795mm tall on a wheelbase of 2,600mm. The interior has taken a similar leap forward, with a bold centre console, neat instruments and comprehensive switchgear. While the rear seats are claimed to be among the most spacious in the segment, the boot can accommodate 423litres worth of luggage with the seats in place. In some markets, dealers will offer a series of option packs available aimed at personalization including the Red Leather Pack which brightens up the interior with coloured leather and Black or
White Packs to colour contrast elements of the interior. Tivoli is equipped with the choice of a newly designed MP3 audio system and a 7in high resolution audio system. USB/ AUX port, Bluetooth, iPod and iPhone connectivity is also offered. Tom-Tom 7in navigation screen is linked to the factory installed rearview camera. Depending on markets, two newlydeveloped engines [petrol/diesel], two gearboxes and 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive system will be offered. Oman market will be served with a 126bhp 1.6-litre engine mated to automatic transmission and four wheel drive will come as standard. Tivoli uses an electronic on-demand system to distribute its power between front and rear wheels depending on which needs it most. For off-road sojourns, it comes with 167mm ground clearance and ample approach, departure and ramp angles. Other features include electronic power steering system with smart steer system
Tivoli is the first new model to be launched following the merger of SsangYong and India’s Mahindra & Mahindra. The new SUV is a result of 42 months of development and an investment of €280mn with three different steering settings – normal, comfort and sport. Suspension package is also modern by segment standards. Up front it uses McPherson struts mounted to a front subframe with coil springs for NVH isolation and high speed stability. For the rear, it uses Torsion beam with rear mounted
springs. For variants fitted with 4-wheel drive, there is multi-link suspension. Occupant safety has been a top priority and Tivoli claims best in class standards. Ssangyong claims it is built to an extremely high level of strength and safety, and 71.4per cent of its body construction uses HSS (High Strength Steel) of which some 40per cent comprises AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steel). To minimise collision impact, 10 major areas on the car are strengthened using the ‘Hot Press Forming’ process, where the strength of the steel is increased to 1500Mpa compared to plain steel with a strength of 590Mpa.Besides this safe structure the car is fitted with airbags for front passenger, side and curtain airbags plus a driver’s knee airbag. There is also multifunction ESP, Active Rollover Protection, Brake Assist, ABS, Hill Start Assist and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal] and a tyre pressure monitoring system. AUG 2015
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2016 HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN
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Honda Motorcycles has released the technical details of its all-new CRF1000L Africa Twin which like its celebrated forerunners will continue in its role as an adventure-oriented machine Author: Chandan B Mallik
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From the beginning of its new career, Honda wants to ensure the CRF1000L Africa Twin can establish itself within the community with its balance of usability, poise and handling, on road and in the dirt, like it seminal XRV750 Africa Twin predecessor
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n May this year, Honda revealed plans to launch a thoroughly updated version of its famous Africa Twin model. Honda also suggested that the all-new model would be based on the foundation laid by the original model. Following this announcement, naturally, there has been some anticipation amongst followers of this iconic adventure tourer who would have waited for twelve years for an appropriate successor to the venerable XRV750. In the interim period, the vacant slot left by the Africa Twin was being served to some extent by the on-road biased VFR1200X Crosstourer. This meant Honda had two options to go forward with the Africa Twin project given its mission 70
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objective need to be the ultimate do-itall adventurer. One was either to modify the Crosstourer and give it additional capabilities or start from ground up. Sensibly, Honda opted for the latter. And in that respect Honda hasn’t disappointed as last month, the motorcycle maker released the first technical bulletin and images of this dual purpose bike. The new Africa Twin’s “spirit” hails from the XRV750 Africa Twin model, but will come with engineering upgrades. In its construction, the incoming Africa Twin gets a steel cradle frame. Honda has shoehorned a brand new compact 998cc two-cylinder engine with a Unicam, 4-valve design and a 270˚ crankshaft. Two primary
balance shafts provide assurances for smooth action with minimum vibrations. The engine outputs 94hp at 7,500rpm and 98Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. Transmission is six-speed gearbox and is equipped with an assist slipper clutch. Honda claims that this new engine can achieve a driving range of up to 400km on a full tank (5 gallon) fuel. Following its design theme of “unlimited adventure”, the Africa Twin is styled with minimum bodywork in a tough, lightweight form that offers both weather protection for the rider and a slim, agile feel. Dual headlights maintain the original’s signature presence and for the bike’s dual nature performances duties, Honda has called upon its expertise
from its CRF Enduro and Motocross competition bikes. The engine’s short height contributes to the CRF1000L Africa Twin’s optimised ground clearance and low centre of gravity. Clever packaging of componentry includes things like the water pump housed within the clutch casing, and the water and oil pumps driven by a shared balancer shaft and battery located behind the rear cylinder head. Meanwhile, suspension duties are taken care by adjustable inverted forks up front and the rear shock absorber has hydraulic spring preload adjustment. Like the CRF450R Rally, the CRF1000L Africa Twin uses 21/18in front rear spoked wheels, wearing 90/90-21 and 150/70-18 tyres. Stopping power is via dual radial-
mount Nissan four-piston brake calipers. And unlike some of the new and similarly profile competitive bikes like the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce which comes with fixed seat height, Honda’s bike will allow rider height flexibility through the adjustable seat height (870mm and 850mm) respectively. From a rider perspective, Honda has included its Honda Selectable Torque Control system, which brings three power control levels. The option to turn off ABS on the rear wheel is also provided for off-road adventures. Honda’s unique Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) will be available as an option on the CRF1000L Africa Twin, with the use of a common crankcase keeping
the width the same as the manual transmission version. It features the standard manual mode – allowing the rider to operate gear shifts through triggers on the left handlebar – and two automatic modes. D mode offers the best balance of fuel economy and comfort cruising. S mode has now been revised to give extra levels of sports performance, with three different shift patterns to choose from: S1, S2 and S3. Further new functionality for the DCT system comes in the form of incline detection, by means of which the gear shift pattern is adapted depending on the grade of any incline to provide optimum control. The new arrival will reach European showrooms this year. AUG 2015
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Future Smart cars
Smart cars to become smarter in future While automakers are focusing on efficiency and design in new cars, specialist companies like AT&T are making them smarter every day Author: Chandan B Mallik
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ach year, the global market is bombarded with new cars. Most tech savvy consumers who are also exposed to mobile devices and familiar with applications such as Android, GooglePlay or Apple are also keen to extend the usage of their devices in the cars they drive. On the other hand car makers are looking at the future of cars in a different way with numerous software application possibilities. Autonomous driving, cars with ‘Super Cruise’ mode to keep drivers in lane automatically; an algorithm that can detect when a car is about to jump a red light and prompt preventive action; mind-reading cars that anticipate driver moves and acts accordingly or a maps service provider launching traffic mapping software incorporating realtime data from drivers with phones are among the many new tech-related stuff which will soon be the order of the day in the automotive arena.. And like the mobile phone industry in 2006 which was revolutionized by the arrival of the iPhone, the auto industry is ripe for change. That’s why every major tech brand in the world is hoping it can transform the car of the future. 72
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Question is: how will automakers do this and who is helping them in designing and implementing these rather lofty goals? In other words, who will make cars smarter in future? In fact, many in the industry reckon that even with improvements in technology applications, the automotive industry in general is still far behind the fast pace of say the mobile phone industry The answer to this is a mix of efforts from both carmakers and industry specialists. Take for instance, in 2014, AT&T, launched two major initiatives focused on innovation in the connected car market – AT&T Drive and AT&T Drive Studio. AT&T has been in the news again recently after it announced new applications that will be available for auto manufacturers to use in their upcoming cars via the AT&T Drive platform. Interestingly, to support the move, in 2014, AT&T transformed a 5,000sq-ft parking garage in Downtown Atlanta into the Drive Studio. It basically serves a working lab for the company’s researchers, designers, and engineers to develop and test new smart car
technologies. And at the January 2015 summit, AT&T further announced five new applications for its connected car platform. These apps will be available to auto manufacturers for their connected car options which can provide drivers with a wide range of services including remote diagnostics and streaming audiobooks and live radio. Developers of the apps include AetherPal, Audiobooks, Dash Radio, eventseeker, and Glympse. “The future of the connected car is going to be amazing. And the AT&T Drive Studio is where we will reinvent and reimagine the car of tomorrow,” says Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T. AT&T aims to power all of those efforts, from Google and Nvidia to Microsoft and Apple. No one can make your current car smart, but they hope to ensure that your next car won’t need after-school classes. “Five years down the road your car will have improvements on it that it didn’t when it left the dealership. And that’s not typical to the automotive industry right now,” explained Brian Greaves, director of product development and emerging devices for AT&T, and head of the company’s Drive Studio.
However, the journey of catching up will also depend on the carmaker. Carmakers are reluctant to release areas where they have full control. For example, a “head unit” in a car like an interactive app driven touchscreen is controlled by the car company and is rarely if ever updated. “The automotive industry is not ready for a thousand applications in that head unit,” Greaves said. Greaves has spent eight years at GM’s OnStar and has a pretty decent handle on what car makers are willing to handle. “Give them 10 or 20 applications that work rock solid and are completely integrated? That’s what consumers really want [anyway]. We’re trying to push the industry toward adopting these things. Five years down the road your car will have improvements on it that it didn’t when it left the dealership.” Meanwhile, other brands pushing their way into your car, including Microsoft and Google and Apple, also have a vision for your car. AT&T embraces them all, the company claims, and offers a unique value-add to further enhance those platforms: that 4G LTE network it touts in all of those commercials. The company
aims to build networking directly into autos, unlike CarPlay or Android Auto, which add familiar smartphone features
Like the mobile phone industry in 2006 which was revolutionised by the arrival of the iPhone, the auto industry is ripe for change. That’s why every major tech brand in the world is hoping it can transform the car of the future. by using the apps and networking features from your smartphone. AT&T argues that building networking into the car affords unique options that simple
tethering can’t create. With such cars being connected and having an embedded module in them, automakers can pull diagnostics data and can remotely start and stop these vehicles from anywhere virtually. All this sounds interesting, but with the complexities in hand and more to come, home automation and individual applications is a huge area of interest for auto manufacturers. AT&T answered that with recent integration into its Digital Life platform. Meanwhile, as part of the solutions to the latter, a cloudbased system with different profiles for different drivers which helps it easy to switch favourite radio stations, contacts, and so on could be used. It works by punching in a code, but it could be biometric-based or profiles could switch based on a voiceprint. Car makers can even build authentication into door handles or the key fobs themselves. Well, it’s going to be a long road ahead with new challenges from both within and outside the industry. This is just the beginning. Interestingly, AT&T works with eight automakers at present: GM, Ford, Nissan, BMW, Volvo, Subaru, Audi, and Tesla. AUG 2015
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Child Safety
Redesigning child safety during travel 74
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he Excellence Child Seat Concept is a clear example of how Volvo Cars’ Design Team is meeting the challenge of adding a luxury touch to the Swedish car maker’s portfolio Volvo Cars’ design team have completely re-imagined how children could travel safely in cars in the future. The move follows the Shanghai reveal of the XC90 Excellence and the Lounge Console Concept, which marked a bold and luxurious step forward for the Swedish car brand. “We started by asking ourselves if we could make life easier for parents and safer for their children when it comes to the child seat experience. We focused on three key benefits – making it easier to get the child into and out of the child seat from an ergonomic and comfort perspective, providing the child with a safe rearward facing seating position that enables it to keep eye-contact with either the driver or the rear passenger and of
course including enough storage for those vital child accessories, such as diapers, bottles, wipes, and so on,” said Tisha Johnson, Chief Designer Interiors at Volvo Cars Concept and Monitoring Centre. According to Tisha Johnson the idea originated in a conversation with Volvo Cars’ owner Li Shufu when he reviewed the XC90 Excellence Lounge Console Concept earlier this year and thought about how else the space left by removing a front passenger seat could be used. The design team at Volvo Cars took on the challenge and in the process re-imagined the way in which small children can travel. The resulting concept enables the parent to swivel the seat counter-clockwise when seating the child and then lock the seat in a rearward facing position. The concept also provides storage for small items beside the seat and a storage space underneath for diapers, blankets, or other larger items and enough space for a tote bag at the front of the seat under the
dashboard. The Excellence Child Seat Concept, which also provides a function to help small children safely lean back and sleep, is based on Volvo’s clear safety position; that small children should travel rearward facing as long as possible (at least up to the age of 3 or 4). This is primarily due to the lack of muscular strength in the necks of small children and the disproportionate head size and weight* in relation to the body. “For us the safety, convenience, and emotional factors outweigh everything else. Being able to maintain eye contact with your child from the rear seat , or being able to keep a bottle warm in the heated cup holders in the XC90 Excellence, would go a long way towards making life easier for parents taking their small child on a trip. Such alternative seating arrangements will become increasingly important as we move towards autonomous vehicles,” added Johnson. AUG 2015
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Sebastian Vettel claimed a stunning Hungarian Grand Prix on a dramatic day that would see both Mercedes involved in controversial collisions
Hungarian GP: Vettel smashes opposition
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ebastian Vettel has taken a remarkable second win of the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship season in an enthralling Hungarian Grand Prix that would see Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finish sixth and eighth on an afternoon of high drama. After a perfect Saturday it was damage limitation in Hungary for Lewis Hamilton and on a moving race day full of talking points, the drama-filled event ending in a Ferrari victory was just what F1 needed. The Ferrari driver led from start-to-finish after a stunning getaway from third on the grid saw him nose in front from turn one, the former champion proceeding to stay well out of trouble as chaos persistently broke out behind him at various points of the race. 76
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On a weekend that has seen Mercedes exert dominance over the opposition, Ferrari’s stunning turn of pace in race conditions was as surprising as it was unexpected. Indeed, with Kimi Raikkonen slotting in second place after an equally rapid getaway from fifth place – and after some boisterous jostling through the first turns -, Rosberg and pole sitter Hamilton found themselves third and fourth, only for Hamilton to run off at the turn six chicane to leave him tenth at the end of the opening lap. Kicking off an eventful afternoon for the championship leader, with Hamilton out of the picture, at least for the time being, Vettel and Raikkonen proceeded to gap Rosberg behind them,
followed by Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg – up from 11th on the grid -, Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian losing time through contact with Bottas in turn one. From here, the race settled down, Vettel steadily increasing his margin over Raikkonen, who in turn was lapping faster than Rosberg in third. Behind them, Ricciardo – after his early tangle – was showcasing impressive form as he scythed through the order, the Australian fourth by the first round of pit-stops. Hamilton, meanwhile, was making steady – if not rapid – progress back up the order, falling half-a-minute off the lead in just a few laps as he struggled to make the Mercedes’ pace advantage work in traffic. With Rosberg opting for
medium rubber on his second stint – with a view to making a push for the win in the third and final stint -- Vettel and Raikkonen continued to pull away out front raising hopes of a first Ferrari 1-2 since the 2010 German Grand Prix. However, those dreams would begin to splutter on lap 40 when Raikkonen came onto the radio to complain of a lack of power. Traced to an issue with the MGU-H, Raikkonen was already haemorrhaging time even before the safety car was deployed on lap 43 as a result of Nico Hulkenberg suffering a dramatic front-wing failure down the home-straight whilst running sixth, the German ending up in the barriers but unhurt. With debris strewn across the circuit though, the necessity of the safety car suddenly brought the race to life, as the leaders dived for the pit-lane for tyres before being bunched up line astern, Vettel leading the crippled Raikkonen, Rosberg, Hamilton – who had earlier
passed Ricciardo for fourth -, Bottas, Max Verstappen and Daniil Kvyat. At the restart, drama immediately unfolded as Rosberg quickly dispatched of Raikkonen, before Hamilton paid the price for a slow exit out of the final turn as Ricciardo sensed his opportunity and dived down the outside. With Hamilton reluctant to yield the position, contact was inevitable, with both cars sustaining damage, but Hamilton really losing out with front-wing damage. With the hobbled Hamilton proceeding to bunch up the cars behind, Kvyat quickly passed – albeit off track, a misdemeanour he would later cop a ten second time penalty for -, while Verstappen would get crossed up with Bottas, causing the Williams to sustain a puncture and putting it out of the running. Significantly though, Hamilton could not continue with the damaged wing, pulling into the pit lane on lap 54 and returning to the circuit well outside the top ten. Worse was to follow for Hamilton though when stewards judged him to be at fault for his collision with Ricciardo, slapping him with a drive-thru penalty as a result. Ricciardo, meanwhile, despite carrying evident damage himself, was otherwise flying in third position now, the Australian benefiting as Raikkonen finally withdrew his slowing Ferrari. With Vettel and Rosberg on medium rubber and Ricciardo pushing on soft tyres, the top three would be circulating in line astern with just ten laps remaining. Indeed, though Rosberg initially worked on challenging Vettel, he would instead find himself fighting a rear guard action against Ricciardo as the race entered its closing stages, allowing Vettel to escape. Their battle would come to a head with five laps remaining though when Ricciardo made a daring move up the inside into turn one. However, with Ricciardo running wide on the exit, Rosberg attempted to come back across but failed to leave enough room, the Red Bull clipping the Mercedes and causing front-wing damage to the former and a puncture to the latter. All of this was of little concern to Vettel up ahead though, the German keeping himself out of trouble to come across the line for an emotional second win with Ferrari, the four-time champion instantly dedicating it to the late Jules Bianchi. With Ricciardo forced to pit to replace
his front-wing, Kvyat came through to finish a surprise second – despite his ten second post-race time penalty -, with Ricciardo still able to come back out in time to finish a hard-fought third. Marking Red Bulls first podiums of the season, it also marks a first rostrum for Kvyat. Whilst drama may have reigned amongst the leaders, controversy would play out across the field, with Verstappen finishing a remarkable fourth place for Toro Rosso, this despite being forced to serve a drivethru penalty for speeding under the safety car. On a busy day for the stewards, Verstappen was one of several drivers to earn the wrath of the powers that be, penalties that would do their bit to allow Fernando Alonso to claim a surprise fifth place finish from 15th on the grid, the Spaniard keeping himself out of trouble to secure a much appreciated top five finish for the struggling McLaren team. It would also allow Hamilton to make a rapid ascension back up the order, the nose change allowing him to go onto soft rubber and scythe through the field to come across the line in sixth place. Rosberg, meanwhile, paid the price for his puncture, desperately attempting to make up ground but falling short in eighth, less than a second behind the seventh place Lotus of Romain Grosjean. It means, despite his eventful afternoon, Hamilton leaves Hungary having swelled his championship lead to 21 points, though it does end his and Mercedes’ consecutive podium record. Complementing Alonso’s fifth place, Jenson Button made it two McLarens inside the top ten in ninth position after a similarly error-free race, while Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson notched up his third points’ finish of the year in tenth. Elsewhere, Williams endured a dismal afternoon, with Felipe Massa never quite recovering from a pit-stop penalty for failing to line up correctly in his pit box, while Bottas never returned to contention following his late puncture. They finished 12th and 14th. Elsewhere, Pastor Maldonado took three penalties for various indiscretions – including spinning Sergio Perez -, though the Force India driver would go on to be retired shortly after Nico Hulkenberg as precaution following front-wing break.
Marc Marquez finally took his second win of the 2015 MotoGP season by dominating the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring for Honda.
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eigning champion Marquez had won from pole at the track every year since his 125cc title-winning campaign in 2010, and that streak looked safe when he topped every practice session and claimed pole this weekend. It wasn’t totally straightforward for Marquez, who was jumped by Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa at the lights and ended up in third as Jorge Lorenzo swept around the outside of them both on his Yamaha. Honda made a unique choice of standard hard RESULTS - 30 LAPS 1 Marc Marquez 2 Dani Pedrosa 3 Valentino Rossi 4 Jorge Lorenzo 5 Andrea Iannone 6 Bradley Smith 7 Cal Crutchlow 8 Pol Espargaro 9 Danilo Petrucci 10 Aleix Espargaro 11 Maverick Vinales 12 Yonny Hernandez 13 Hector Barbera 14 Alvaro Bautista 15 Jack Miller 78
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front Bridgestones on a day when everyone else chose the softer ‘Sachsenring special’ asymmetric front, potentially setting up a battle of tyre strategies. In the event, the Hondas were simply faster in the race as they had been for much of the weekend. Marquez quickly demoted Pedrosa to third and by the end of lap five he was through on Lorenzo into the lead. From there Marquez quickly escaped, leaving the Yamahas to fight over second. It took repeated attempts before Rossi was able
(Spain) (Spain) (Italy) (Spain) (Italy) (Britain) (Britain) (Spain) (Italy) (Spain) (Spain) (Colombia) (Spain) (Spain) (Australia)
Honda Honda Yamaha Yamaha Ducati Yamaha Honda Yamaha Ducati Suzuki Suzuki Ducati Ducati Aprilia Honda
41:01.087 41:03.313 41:06.695 41:11.015 41:21.872 41:24.302 41:30.968 41:36.040 41:36.962 41:38.340 41:38.361 41:43.168 41:49.698 41:51.774 41:54.856
to overtake Lorenzo, and even once clear he did not have the pace to keep up with Marquez. Instead he had to focus on Pedrosa, who also passed Lorenzo and then made it a Honda one-two by passing Rossi at half-distance. Rossi clung on behind Pedrosa until the final laps before settling for third, which still increased his championship lead to 13 points as Lorenzo drifted away in fourth. Andrea Iannone completed the top five after a lonely race on the best of the Ducatis. His
team-mate Andrea Dovizioso crashed out of eighth, while underdog qualifying star Yonny Hernandez tumbled back from fifth to 12th on the Pramac Ducati. Britons Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow were sixth and seventh. The biggest dice of the race was over eighth place, a battle involving six bikes in the middle stages. Pol Espargaro eventually won it ahead of Danilo Petrucci. The Suzukis were left squabbling over 10th place, a battle Aleix Espargaro by just 0.021 seconds over Maverick Vinales at the line.
RIDERS’ STANDINGS 1 Valentino Rossi (Italy) 2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) 3 Andrea Iannone (Italy) 4 Marc Marquez (Spain) 5 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) 6 Bradley Smith (Britain) 7 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) 8 Cal Crutchlow (Britain) 9 Pol Espargaro (Spain) 10 Maverick Vinales (Spain) 11 Danilo Petrucci (Italy) 12 Aleix Espargaro (Spain) 13 Yonny Hernandez (Colombia) 14 Scott Redding (Britain) 15 Hector Barbera (Spain)
Yamaha 179 Yamaha 166 Ducati 118 Honda 114 Ducati 87 Yamaha 87 Honda 67 Honda 66 Yamaha 64 Suzuki 57 Ducati 51 Suzuki 44 Ducati 32 Honda 30 Ducati 19
Summer of discontent
OBITUARY Jules Bianchi
Renault and the Red Bull teams are not on best terms at the moment and Christian Horner said it would be Sochi in October before he was expecting an update from Renault. As Renault ponders whether to leave the sport entirely or get even more involved, possibly buying back the team it sold just a few short years ago, the French manufacturer seemingly getting more negative publicity now than the positive publicity it should have been getting whilst winning as engine supplier and entrant, the breakdown of the marriage is every bit as messy as one reads about in the tabloids. Renault accuses Red Bull of forgetting the good times - the successes - and putting all the blame on its power units, whilst the Austrian team lashes out, vindictively, threatening to withdraw. Meanwhile, Renault has opened discussions with Bernie Ecclestone over its future in Formula 1, according to motorsport chief Cyril Abiteboul, and has ruled out making an early exit. Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn, Renault Sport F1 president CEO Jerome Stoll and Abiteboul met with Ecclestone in Monaco to talk about its position in F1. Ecclestone expects Renault to decide soon on whether or not it will take over ailing Lotus F1 team and turn it into a full works outfit. Discussions have been ongoing for some time, and it’s understood that Renault boss Carlos Ghosn will make the final call after reviewing the options. The situation is complicated by the fact that much of the team’s debt represents loans from its shareholders. Lotus is under severe pressure to resolve its financial issues. In Hungary, Pirelli did not release its tyres until just 50 minutes before FP1 after a late payment issue was addressed, and funds transferred.
Jules Bianchi, who has died aged 25 last month after a freak accident on track in Japan, was the youngest member of a dynasty of French racing drivers, and one of the most promising stars of the international Formula One circuit. He sustained severe head injuries in October last year after his Marussia car hit a recovery tractor at high speed during the Japanese Grand Prix. The tractor was clearing the wreckage of the German driver Adrian Sutil’s Sauber car as track conditions at Suzuka worsened in torrential rain, and the accident – the most serious at an F1 world championship race since Ayrton Senna’s death at Imola in 1994 – prompted other drivers to call for a safety car to accompany recovery tractors in future. Bianchi had remained in a coma in intensive care since the crash, which was subsequently blamed, in part, on his failure to slow down sufficiently under double yellow flags to avoid losing control and prevent his head-on collision with the recovery tractor at a speed of around 125mph. After joining the minnow Anglo-Russian Marussia Formula One team, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and finishing 13th in the Malaysian Grand Prix of 2013, Bianchi scored his first F1 points by finishing ninth in last year’s Monaco Grand Prix. Motor racing journalists judged it a highly impressive showing by a relatively unknown young driver. In all, he competed in 34 Grand Prix races. His pedigree as a potential Formula One champion was impeccable. His grandfather, Mauro Bianchi, was three times champion in the GT category of top international sports car racing. His great-uncle, Lucien Bianchi, competed in 17 Grands Prix during the 1960s and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968, before being killed in a crash a year later, at the age of 34. Quietly spoken but with a cheerful personality, Jules Bianchi was a popular figure in the sport, although perhaps not widely known outside Formula One. He was considered to have consistently outperformed the British driver Max Chilton at Marussia, and had been tipped to succeed the unsettled former world champion Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari team, for which he was a test driver. The son of a family of Italian descent, Bianchi was born in Nice on August 3 1989. His father, Philippe, managed a karting track near Marseille, where Jules made his debut behind the wheel aged three. He was racing by the age of five. At 13, he was signed up by Maranello Karting, showing great skill and decisiveness in his driving
at this young age. He moved on in 2007 and raced in French Formula Renault 2.0, winning five times and finishing the season as champion. Bianchi joined the Formula Three European Championship and finished third in the 2008 season. In 2009, with eight wins, he won the title with a race to spare and went on to win the final round at Hockenheim. At the end of 2009, he represented Ferrari at the young drivers’ test in Jerez and graduated from the Ferrari academy. By 2010, Bianchi was a star of the GP2 Series and was lying fourth in the championship when he was badly injured at the Hungaroring circuit in Hungary, although he recovered from a broken vertebra in time to take part in the subsequent round. In November 2010, he was named by Ferrari as its test and reserve driver for the 2011 Formula One season. A year later, he was loaned to the Force India team as test and reserve driver, but the following year lost out to the more experienced Sutil in the contest for a place in the team’s front rank of drivers. The decision was judged harsh on Bianchi, whom The Daily Telegraph described as an exciting young driver and who had registered the third best overall time during testing at Jerez, despite completing only 50 laps on the final day. Later in 2013, however, he made his full debut in Formula One with Marussia (now known as Manor Marussia), replacing Luiz Razia. Bianchi finished ninth in the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2014, earning Marussia its first world championship points. His drive through the narrow streets and tight hairpin bends was acclaimed as a mixture of flair, steely determination and panache – just the traits that observers had spotted in him when he was being touted as a future star of the sport five years before. It was undoubtedly the young man’s finest hour in Formula One. On the streets of Monte Carlo, a dozen French journalists crammed into the modest Marussia motorhome and sang La Marseillaise at the top of their voices, banging on the table for emphasis. In the aftermath of Bianchi’s accident last October, motor racing’s governing body, the FIA, announced the introduction of a “virtual safety car” that slows drivers down in yellow-flag conditions, and recommended the introduction of a new “four-hour rule”, under which races (other than those at night) must start four hours before sunset or dusk. Some drivers claimed that bad light was an issue in Bianchi’s crash at Suzuka. Bianchi was a bachelor and is survived by his parents, brother and sister. AUG 2015
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The Toll rip-off While this month’s chicane may seem a bit off topic in a country where there is no toll charge to use a road, it is the season for travel and so many of us will actually have paid a toll in these months that you’ll forgive me for taking up the space. So, what’s that I hear you ask, “Why are you ranting about paying a toll fee?” That’s a very good question, considering that the model for private (or indeed government masquerading as private enterprise) participation in infrastructure development has been set for longer than cars existed. We take toll roads, or bridges or tunnels for that matter because they make life easier. These ticketed pathways save us fuel, time or money. And the advantage is quantifiable. After all isn’t the Suez Canal an example of a tollway that does exactly this – saving ships from the bother of sailing around the cape? It’s that win-win scenario that invokes a huge capital outlay in canal digging, bridge building or road laying with the premise of being able to offer users a measurable advantage. Which brings me to my recent tryst with the genre. In India, toll roads don’t necessarily offer the same clear-cut formula. I live on the outskirts of Mumbai and have to pay toll to enter the city, no matter which road or route I take. There is no ‘free’ path in. So the toll is not being charged for an advantage but as a tax. Then take the case of the toll highway. You can drive to the nearby city of Pune by the expressway on which you pay a toll. Or you could drive there by means of the government provided highway, on which you pay the same toll. It used to be free but then so many drivers preferred using the government road that the authorities stepped in to level the playing field. Now you pay the same amount to travel by either the good road or the bad. Guess which one you would take?
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
On a recent long distance drive down the western side of India, we travelled almost 2,000kms on a combination of toll roads and regular state highways. Almost across the board, the toll roads were still being built, with construction phases taking away from the speed that could have been attained. And there was no logical reasoning for the location of the tollgates. There were even stretches of regular highway that had tollgates on them because some day in the future the road would be made. At the same time state level highways, often four-laned, would take us on from there. Good driving surfaces, scenic routes and a better connect with towns along the way were a definite bonus to the no money to be paid road. Yes, India remains a country where connections or corruption can get you a lifelong cash cow in the guise of a toll concession. More often than not, this isn’t even audited. But, I feel that it has reached a level where the public will rebel at paying another toll. For instance, on my recent drive, if you calculate the ratios of fuel spend to toll paid over the toll road distance - it is under 3:1. If a non-toll road existed, the sum would not have risen to over four. There is almost no cost benefit – the only benefit is time saved, as of now. India is reportedly about to embark on a multi-billion dollar investment in growing the national level highway network, again premised on a toll payment route. Unless worldclass connectivity results, this form of crony capitalism is the stuff that will set off resentment around the country. Should India, for instance, be looking at the Dubai model of toll gates, where the money is invested by the government is high quality roads and bridges and the toll charges are paid back into their coffers? That’s a low strife model, because equally good roads are still available as free-use paths although it would still take more time to travel them. Or should the model be the German one, where the autobahns are part of the nation’s infrastructure that powers the growth of economy, trade and commerce and hence pays off for itself? As you can see, there are no easy answers. As a road user, I just know that I want to feel as if I have benefited whenever I pay a toll.
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