Motoring April 2017 by The Malta Independent

The Malta Independent on Sunday. April 2017

CATERHAM 420S HARRODS SEVEN SPECIAL EDITION also inside

Spectacular Road Trip: Lebanon

VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT CHATEAU KEFRAYA

Békaa Valley

Lebanon cedar

SPECTACULAR ROAD TRIP:

LEBANON

LEBANON – A POWERHOUSE OF MIDDLE EASTERN HISTORY PERCHED BESIDE THE MEDITERRANEAN IS AN INCREDIBLE BACKDROP FOR A ROAD-TRIP ACROSS SOME OF THE MIDDLE EAST'S MOST SPECTACULAR SCENERY. LEBANON IS FAMOUS FOR ITS EXQUISITE BEAUTY, DIVERSITY, EUROPEAN FLAVOUR, AND HOSPITABLE PEOPLE. LEBANESE CITIES ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMOUS NAMES IN ANCIENT HISTORY AND MAJESTIC RUINS STILL STAND TODAY AS A TESTIMONY TO THE GREATNESS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THIS LAND. THE COSMOPOLITAN FLAIR OF MODERN-DAY BEIRUT AND THE GASTRONOMIC RENOWN OF THE COUNTRY'S FOOD AND WINE COMPLIMENT A COUNTRY THAT IS BOTH TRADITIONAL AND PROGRESSIVE IN OUTLOOK. LEBANON IS A WELL-KEPT TOURIST SECRET WAITING TO BE EXPLORED. There are four main geographic regions in Lebanon, differentiated by topography and climate. From west to east, they include: the coastal plain, the Mount Lebanon Range, the Békaa Valley, and the Anti-Lebanon Range. The Anti-Lebanon Range is a stretch of arid mountains that rise to the east of the Békaa Valley and form part of the country's eastern border with Syria. The Békaa Valley, known in ancient times as “the breadbasket” or “granary” of the Roman Empire, is still the country's main agricultural region. Located on a high plateau between the country's two mountain ranges, the riverfed Békaa supports the production of tomatoes, potatoes, wheat, olives, and

Jbail (Byblos)

grapes, even despite summers that are hot and dry. Besides some of Lebanon's best wineries, the Békaa's major attraction is the ruins at Baalbek. Originating as a place of worship to Baal, the Phoenician Sun God, Baalbek was known in GrecoRoman times as the famous Heliopolis, or “City of the Sun.” Perhaps because of the region's agricultural importance in feeding the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, some of the largest Roman temples ever constructed were erected at this site. The construction lasted over 200 years, and the well-preserved temples honor Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus. The lovely Lebanese coast is framed by the Mediterranean Sea to the west and

the Mount Lebanon Range to the east, its temperate climate bringing in sunny, hot summers and cool, rainy winters. The daytime temperature in the summer, which averages 30°C, encourages people to head to the beach or to the higher, altitude-cooled mountain slopes. In the coastal cities of Saida (Sidon) and Jbail (Byblos), tourists can enjoy the rare opportunity to snorkel amongst longsubmerged Phoenician ruins, while excellent hiking is a mere hour away in the Chouf region of the Mount Lebanon Range. The Mount Lebanon Range includes numerous rivers that fizz with snowmelt, steep-walled gullies that shade grottoes once the hideout to those fleeing

persecution, and also Lebanon's highest summit, Qornet Es-Saouda (3,090m). In winter, the high peaks are blanketed with snow, lending Lebanon its name, Lubnan, the Arabic word for “white.” Lebanon boasts a number of world-class ski resorts, one of only a couple countries in the Middle East where you can ski. The ski season runs from December until April. The Mount Lebanon Range is also the location of Lebanon's Cedar Reserves. The great cedar forests of Lebanon, now protected, are famous for their use in the construction of some of the holiest buildings in the region, indeed the world, including Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock and Solomon's Temple.

Temple of Jupiter Baalbek Lebanon April 2017 | motoring 03

LEBANESE VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT >

Château Kefraya:

A TERROIR, A SOUL, A GREAT WINE. MORE THAN 4000 YEARS AGO, VINES WERE ALREADY GROWING IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHAT IS TODAY LEBANON. PHOENICIANS WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO FERMENT GRAPE JUICE FROM THE VINES GROWING IN THE BEKAA VALLEY. SITUATED ABOUT 20 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF CHTAURA LIES THE ONE OF THE LARGEST WINERIES IN THE BEKAA VALLEY, CHATEAU KEFRAYA. WITH LAND STRETCHING OUT ALONG THE SLOPES OF MOUNT BAROUK, THE HORIZONTAL LANDSCAPE PROMISES APPETIZING SIGHTS OF RICH GREEN VINEYARDS DOTTING THE HILLS AND VALLEYS.

ince day one, the motto Semper Ultra, which in latin means “Always better, Always higher”, has been hand in hand with the constant development and evolution of Château Kefraya. The story began in 1951, when Michel de Bustros, founder of Château Kefraya, initiated the construction of a Château on top of a Roman man-made hill (constructed by the Romans to house a fort) which today overlooks the vineyards located in the town of Kefraya at the heart of the Bekaa Valley. Centuries ago Romans had discovered the virtues of this clay limestone terroir which, located at 1100 meters above sea level, cannot be more favorable to planting vines. The fallow land was ploughed and rocks blasted to create the terraces and the largest contiguous vineyard in Lebanon. Initially selling his grapes to other properties, he began fermenting them himself in 1979. Today they take grapes from a total of 430 hectares in the Kefraya region, including contracted vineyards

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Michel de Bustros, who passed away on August 8, 2016 age 87, was an entrepreneur whose primary ambition was centred on constant improvement. Presenting Château Kefraya as his life’s achievement, he summed up his career in the series of vintages that placed the estate at the core of the Lebanese wine industry.

under their total control. Thanks to this rich heritage, noble grapes are planted and dedicated solely to blended wines. This exceptional terroir is preserved on a daily basis by viticulture that is sustainable and respectful of the environment. The essence of Château Kefraya pervades each of its bottles with a particular soul that meticulously combines terroir and tradition.

Chateau Kefraya’s “Les Bretèches” is a unique blend of seven grape varieties, namely Cinsaut, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Round, fruity and fairly vigorous, “Les Bretèches” displays a dark ruby colour and reveals aromas of mature wild berries and dark cherries with a slight and very interesting hint of spice. A very elegant wine to

Fabrice Guiberteau Technical Director and Oenologist

INITIALLY SELLING HIS GRAPES TO OTHER PROPERTIES, HE BEGAN FERMENTING THEM HIMSELF IN 1979. TODAY THEY TAKE GRAPES FROM A TOTAL OF 430 HECTARES IN THE KEFRAYA REGION, INCLUDING CONTRACTED VINEYARDS UNDER THEIR TOTAL CONTROL. savour with Lebanese meze, grilled meats as well as slightly spiced dishes. Plan a visit. Chateau Kefraya offers daily tours, free tasting, and a train ride through the vineyards, which has ancient carvings hidden among the grapes. A brunch is also served every Sunday between 1 and 5 pm. Address: West Bekaa, Bekaa, T: 01 485207/8/9, Email: business@chateaukefraya.com, Web: www.chateaukefraya.com. Directions: To reach Chateau Kefraya from Chtaura, take the road toward Beirut and after about 1km, turn left in the direction of Mashghara. Continue straight until you reach the checkpoint at Kefraya. Turn left directly after the checkpoint and then right after about 100m (signposted). Coming from Beirut, the right turn toward Mashghara can be found about 500m after the left sign to Jdita.

Château Kefraya chateau

Château Kefraya train

Locally Chateau Kefraya Wines are imported by Attard and Co and available from Sistina Wine & Co., The Strand Gzira. Opening hours: 10am till late. WEB: www.sistinawineco.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/sistina wineco TEL: 2131 4161

ALFA ROMEO SHOWCASES PRESTIGIOUS RACING HERITAGE AT 101ST TARGA FLORIO • WORLD’S OLDEST AUTOMOTIVE RACE TOOK PLACE OVER THREE STAGES THROUGH THE SCENIC LANDSCAPE OF SICILY, ITALY FROM 20TH- 23RD APRIL • DRAWING FROM ITS EXTENSIVE COLLECTION AT THE MUSEO STORICO, ALFA ROMEO RACED ICONIC MODELS FROM ITS 1960S COLLECTION, INCLUDING THE GIULIETTA SZ, GIULIA SPRINT GTA, GIULIA SPRINT SPECIALE AND 1600 SPIDER DUETTO • ALFA ROMEO WAS ONE OF THE TITLE SPONSORS OF THIS YEAR’S HISTORIC OPEN ROAD ENDURANCE RACE

his weekend, Alfa Romeo showcased its prestigious racing heritage at the 101st edition of the Targa Florio, the world’s oldest automotive race, held in Sicily, Italy. A title sponsor of this year’s event, Alfa Romeo provided cars from its extensive collection at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese for the Classic race. Some of Alfa Romeo’s most impressive racing models from the 1960s including; an Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, Giulia Sprint GTA, Giulia Sprint Speciale and 1600 Spider Duetto joined the line-up of historic cars. Starting at the Piazza Verdi in the capital, Palermo, the three-stage race passed through 305 kilometres of beautiful Sicilian countryside, including Caltavuturo, Castellana Sicula, Petralia Sottana, Geraci Siculo, Castelbuono, Termini Imerese and Trabia.

ABOUT THE GIULIETTA SZ (1960) Driven by Roberto Giolito, Head of the FCA Heritage Department, the Giulietta SZ features a distinctive ‘cut-off rear’, disc-type front brakes and tapered nose, offering efficient aerodynamics that allow it to reach 200 km/h. Under the bonnet, a 1290 cc four cylinder engine is capable of generating 100 HP. The Giulietta Sprint Zagato has its roots in racing. In 1956, Dore Leto di Priolo, one of Italy’s best known gentleman drivers of the time, badly damaged his Giulietta Sprint Veloce during the Mille Miglia. When he took it to Zagato for repair, Dore requested that the weight was reduced as much as possible, even if it proved complex and expensive. In response, Zagato removed the panelling from the chassis, fitted it with a lightweight tubular steel structure and covered it with an aluminium body. The

result was the SVZ, a more rounded, contoured car with greatly improved aerodynamic prowess that lent itself to success of the race track. Alfa Romeo transformed Zagato’s design into a ‘standard’ production model, based on a shorter chassis, and production began on the Sprint Zagato in 1959. The model taking part in the 101st Targa Florio is the second version, produced in 1960.

ABOUT THE GIULIA GTA

Known for its racing prowess, the Giulia Sprint GTA is similar to the standard production ‘GT’ cars with bodywork by Bertone. However, the ‘A’ in the name stands for ‘Alleggerita’ or ‘lightweight’. The steel bodywork of the standard Sprint GT was replaced by ultra-light alloy panels and 14” magnesium wheels, cutting the car’s original weight by more than 200kg. A modified 1570 cc twin camshaft engine

could produce 115 HP and a top speed of over 185 km/h. The Giulia GTA was piloted by Fabrizio Curci, Head of EMEA Alfa Romeo brand and Giorgio Zivocci, grandson of Ugo Sivocci, who won the Targa Florio race in 1923 behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo RL. Ugo Sivocci was responsible for the iconic four-leaf clover on Alfa Romeo cars; his car in the 1923 Targa Florio race was adorned with the green four-leaf clover and his victory cemented its status as a lucky charm.

ABOUT THE GIULIA SPRINT SPECIALE (1963) An evolution of the Giulietta version, the Giulia Sprint Speciale was designed by Franco Scaglione to be an extremely low, streamlined coupé with sleek, curvy lines. The Giulia Sprint Speciale is distinguishable by its absence of bumpers and large ‘shark mouth’ radiator and achieves an impressive performance; 113 HP and a top speed of 191 km/h.

ABOUT THE 1600 SPIDER DUETTO (1966) A masterpiece in design, the 1600 Spider Duetto features an unconventional design with a low nose and tapered ‘cuttlefish bone’ tail. Boasting 109 HP and a maximum speed of 182 km/h, the Duetto became iconic thanks to its appearance in the film ‘The Graduate’, driven by Dustin Hoffman. To find out more about Alfa Romeo at this year’s Targa Florio, visit http://www.alfaromeopress.com/on-air&lng=2

April 2017 | motoring 05

FORMULA1

NEED TO K

From session times to previous break down the key facts, stats ahead of the fourth round of th

pened in 2014 using roads linking Sochi’s various Olympic venues, Russia’s F1 circuit is something of a curiosity in that it’s a purpose-built facility which shares many of the characteristics of a street circuit, such as right-angled bends, close concrete walls and limited run-off. Having said that, in speed (and length) terms it’s more akin to Baku than Monaco, with its relatively stopstart layout placing big demands on both the power unit/energy management and brakes.

THE KEY CORNER

NEW JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE

TEASED ON CENTRE COURT AT WIMBLEDON

Sochi’s signature corner is the high-speed, long-radius lefthander at Turn 3, which skirts around the flag-lined Olympic Medal Plaza. The corner is not only a good barometer of car balance and performance, it’s also one that places big demands on the drivers from a G-force perspective – not least because with the beginning of the season dominated by clockwise circuit layouts, the drivers haven’t had to deal with any left-hander like this. The question is, with 2017’s faster machinery, how many more Gs will the drivers be pulling through Turn 3 this year?

• JAGUAR TEASES SPORTY LINES OF THE NEW XF SPORTBRAKE • DYNAMIC NEW PREMIUM ESTATE SITS ALONGSIDE SEDAN STABLEMATE TO EXTEND XF RANGE WITH ADDED PRACTICALITY • JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE WILL BE REVEALED THIS SUMMER • JAGUAR IS OFFICIAL CAR PARTNER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT WIMBLEDON 2017

aguar has revealed the first glimpse of the desirable new XF Sportbrake over Wimbledon's iconic Centre Court. With less than 70 days to go until The Championships, Wimbledon 2017, the famously manicured surface of the All England Lawn Tennis Club served as the canvas for a large-scale outline of the dynamic sports estate. Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum watched as ground staff transformed the venue’s famous white lines under the expert eye of Head Groundsman Neil Stubley. Ian Callum said: “With XF Sportbrake we’ve created a silhouette which sweeps towards the rear, almost into the distance, and really gives the car a sense of speed and sportiness. It will bring 06 motoring | April 2017

new levels of practicality to the range without sacrificing the dynamic design and agile handling our customers expect.” Neil Stubley said: “Ian and I come from very different professions but the roles of Head Groundsman and Design Director at Jaguar have one thing in common – our dedication to achieving perfect precise lines. If we get one line out of place, the whole world will see it, so it’s vital that we achieve 100 per cent precision with every line we draw.” The XF Sportbrake will join the award-winning XF sports saloon in the Jaguar line-up when it goes on sale this summer. Jaguar is official car partner for The Championships at Wimbledon 2017, which runs from Monday 3 July to Sunday 16 July.

Sochi 2016 Turn 3

HAMILTON THE MAN TO BEAT

Sebastian Vettel may have been victorious in two of the first three races of the year, but on paper the man to beat in Sochi is the driver directly below him in the current standings: Lewis Hamilton. The three-time world champion won the first two races in Sochi, and he might have made it a hat-trick last year if power unit problems hadn’t beset him ahead of Q3 and consigned him to a P10 grid slot.

KNOW – RUSSIA

s winners, we s and information he season ...

Sochi 2016 Nico Rosberg flatspots his tyres

Car advantage or not, that he recovered to finish second (to former team mate Nico Rosberg) says much about Hamilton’s prowess around a track that rewards drivers who possess excellent brake feel.

FERRARI LOOKING FOR FIRST FRONT-ROW START

Mercedes' domination of Sochi has been such that only one other team has ever made it

ONLY FIVE OF THE CURRENT GRID HAVE EVER STOOD ON THE ROSTRUM IN RUSSIA, WITH LEWIS HAMILTON A PERFECT THREE FOR THREE. FERRARI, WILLIAMS (WITH BOTTAS) AND FORCE INDIA HAVE ALSO GAINED PODIUMS onto the front row at the Russian circuit, and that was Williams who claimed P2 last year with current Silver Arrows star Valtteri Bottas (in Hamilton’s Q3 absence, lest we forget). In the same session Kimi Raikkonen secured third on the grid for Ferrari, their best Sochi starting slot – but will this be the year they finally break onto the front row? And even if they don’t, does it matter? Yes, all three victories in Sochi have come from the front row (two from pole, the other from P2) – but Vettel won last time out in Bahrain from P3…

QUOTE UNQUOTE After a fine fifth place finish on home soil in 2015, Daniil Kvyat found himself the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons last year in Sochi when

Sochi 2016 Daniil Kvyat crashes into Sebastian Vettel

he hit Sebastian Vettel not once but twice on the opening lap, resulting in the German's retirement. It proved to be Kvyat's last act in Red Bull machinery as he was subsequently sent back to Toro Rosso with Max Verstappen going in the opposite direction. After scoring in Australia, Kvyat has missed the points in the last two races. What better place then to get back into the top ten – and banish the memories of 2016.

A RECORD SET TO FALL? We mentioned Mercedes' previous domination of Sochi – and here it is in black and white. Of the 159 racing laps held to date in Russia, the Silver Arrows have led them all (100 to Lewis

Hamilton, the rest to Nico Rosberg). This year’s laps led split after three races? Mercedes 95, Ferrari 75...

WILL ANYONE ELSE JOIN THE SOCHI PODIUM CLUB? Only five of the current grid have ever stood on the rostrum in Russia, with Lewis Hamilton a perfect three for three. Ferrari, Williams (with Bottas) and Force India have also gained podiums – but Red Bull are still waiting for a first, with their best result in Sochi Daniil Kvyat’s fifth place in 2015. The Milton Keynes team failed to end their four-year search for a Bahrain podium last time out – what chance of a Sochi podium this weekend?

WILLIAMS LOOKING TO EXTEND BRILLIANT SOCHI RUN

Other than Mercedes, the team that has shown best at Sochi in the three previous races is Williams. Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finished fourth and fifth here last year, and they might have been third and sixth in 2015 had Kimi Raikkonen not clattered into Bottas on the last lap. Given their recent travails, some might be surprised to see McLaren with the fourth-best points haul in Russian Grand Prix history, but the Woking team have scored points in every race to date, including a fabulous sixth place with Fernando Alonso last year. On current form, a repeat looks unlikely... April 2017 | motoring 07

ONE-MILLIONTH MAZDA MX-5 RETURNS TO JAPAN AFTER ITS WORLD TOUR • THE ONE-MILLIONTH MAZDA MX-5 RETURNED TO HIROSHIMA ON THE 7TH APRIL AFTER A 12MONTH WORLD TOUR. • AS IT TRAVELLED THE GLOBE IT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY MORE THAN 10,000 MX-5 FANS. • A UNIQUE MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD’S BESTSELLING TWO-SEATER SPORTS CAR. azda Motor Corporation announced today that the one-millionth Mazda MX-5, a commemorative model celebrating the production of 1 million units of Mazda’s iconic two-seater convertible sports car, has returned home after a year-long tour that saw the model exhibited at fan-facing events around the globe. The car arrived back at the company’s Hiroshima headquarters on April 7. Mazda organized the one-millionth MX-5 tour to celebrate with fans the achievement of 1 million units and to say thank you to everyone who has supported the model over the years. Over the course of the tour the car was exhibited at 35 events in Japan, the U.K., Spain, Germany, Belgium, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and more than 10,000 MX-5 fans signed their name on the bodywork. The one-millionth MX-5 made its UK appearance at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it appeared alongside the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF as the latest version of Mazda’s

iconic sports car made its UK debut. “Seeing so many signatures from all over the world really brought home the fact that people from different countries, cultures and generations have supported the MX-5 for more than a quarter of a century,” said Masashi Nakayama, Program Manager and Chief Designer of the fourth-generation MX-5. “We are forever grateful to these fans, and we will continue working to elevate this car, a symbol of Mazda’s dedication to driving pleasure, to the realm of high culture as we set our sights on the next milestone – 2 million units.” The one-millionth MX-5 will take part in the parade at the Hiroshima Flower Festival on May 3 and will be on display in the lobby of Mazda’s Hiroshima headquarters from the 8-12th May. Mazda will continue promoting initiatives that value car culture and the history the brand has built together with its customers. It aims to enrich people’s lives through a variety of touchpoints and become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional connection.

DOS AND DON’TS IF YOU BREAKDOWN hard shoulder stopping on a running lane is extremely dangerous.

IF YOU'VE BROKEN DOWN IT CAN BE HARD AND OFTEN DANGEROUS TO STOP. FOLLOW THESE TIPS ON HOW TO STOP SAFELY AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE, WRITES RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, PAUL VELLA. If an emergency forces you to stop on a main road pull on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as possible with the front wheels turned to the left. • leave your sidelights on and turn on the hazard lights • get out of the vehicle by the left-hand door and make sure that all your passengers do the same • leave animals in the vehicle or in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge • if you have reflective jackets in the vehicle wear them – do not use a warning triangle on the hard shoulder • don't attempt even simple repairs • once in a safe place phone your breakdown service provider If you can't get across to the

GET YOUR VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD IF POSSIBLE AND WARN OTHER TRAFFIC BY USING YOUR HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS, PARTICULARLY IF YOUR VEHICLE IS CAUSING AN OBSTRUCTION. 08 motoring | April 2017

• switch on your hazard warning lights • don't attempt to place any warning device on the road • leave the vehicle only when you can safely get clear of the road If you have a disability which prevents you from following the above then stay in your vehicle, keep your seatbelt on, switch on your hazard warning lights and contact emergency services. If there is no choice but to stop in a live lane use hazard warning lights to help other drivers see you. • if you are in the left hand lane and it is safe to do so, exit the vehicle via the left hand door and wait behind the barrier if possible. • if you cannot exit the vehicle, do not feel it is safe to do so or there is no other place of relative safety, stay in the vehicle. Keep your seat belt on and dial 112. Inform the police that you are in a dangerous area and need assistance to keep you safe and from causing further accidents.

ON OTHER ROADS Get your vehicle off the road if possible and warn other traffic by using your hazard warning lights, particularly if your vehicle is causing an obstruction. If you have any fear that your vehicle may be struck by other traffic make all your passengers get out of the car and get well away from the traffic. Question whether it is safe for you to fix the car or whether you need professional help. • If it is safe and you have one, put a warning triangle or other permitted warning device on the road behind your vehicle on the same side of the road. Always take great care when doing this. • Keep your sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor. • Do not stand between your vehicle and oncoming traffic. • At night or in poor visibility do not stand where you will prevent other road users seeing your lights. • Contact your emergency breakdown service provider. • If you have used a warning triangle remember to retrieve it, with care, when the breakdown is over.

NISSAN LEAF AT-EV – PLUG IN ADVENTURES GOES ‘OFF THE GRID’ WITH PIONEERING 10,000 MILE MONGOL RALLY ENTRY NISSAN LEAF AT-EV – PLUG IN ADVENTURES GOES ‘OFF THE GRID’ IN AN ELECTRIC CAR WITH PIONEERING 10,000 MILE MONGOL RALLY ENTRY

lectric vehicle advocate Plug In Adventures has created a specially modified Nissan LEAF that will be the first allelectric car to enter the Mongol Rally*, driving 10,000 miles / 16,000 km from the UK to Mongolia in summer 2017. Dubbed the LEAF AT-EV (All Terrain Electric Vehicle), the vehicle is based on a standard 30kWh Nissan LEAF Acenta, which offers a range of up to 155 miles / 250 km on a single charge**. Key modifications have been made to better equip the car once it reaches the more remote parts of the journey. The LEAF AT-EV has been fitted with Speedline SL2 Marmora wheels and Maxsport RB3 narrow tyres, for better performance on unsealed roads. Welded plates to the underside of the wishbones, braided brake lines, mudflaps and a 6mm aluminium sump guard add further protection from rough terrain. A modified roof rack provides external storage and is fitted with a Lazer Triple-R 16 LED light bar to produce 16,400 lumens of supplementary low-voltage forward lighting during the remotest parts of the trip. As the Mongol Rally isn’t a timed race, the entrants’ vehicles ideally provide long distance comfort. The interior modifications to the LEAF AT-EV have been focused on reducing weight and

providing more storage space. The driver and front passenger area is unmodified apart from the addition of rubber floor mats. The rear row of seats and rear seatbelts have been completely removed, contributing to a 32kg weight loss. A Fire Extinguisher and Medi Kit have also been integrated into the boot space. The modifications to the LEAF AT-EV were carried out by RML Group, a leading high performance automotive engineering company based in the UK. Chris Ramsey, founder of Plug In Adventures, said: “The Mongol Rally is our most challenging electric vehicle drive to date, but it’s one we’ve been planning for a number of years. Not only will we face a dwindling number of EV chargers the further east we go, the terrain also becomes more difficult to navigate. “Using a Nissan LEAF for this was an obvious decision though. I’m very familiar with the car, it’s always been reliable and dependable for me, and it has the largest network of rapid charging options in

Europe. As it will also accept a 240v Commando connection even in the remote areas when my fast-charge options are gone, I can still charge the battery and keep moving. This journey is about the travel experience though, not reaching the destination in a fast time. I can’t wait to get out on the road and introduce more people to the advantages of electric vehicles, whatever country they’re from!” Chris plans to make regular stops along the way to promote the benefits of running an all-electric vehicle to residents of the countries he’s passing through. He’ll also be using the What3Words platform (http://what3words.com/) to log the locations of some of the uncharted charging network, so that future EV

drivers traversing the region can benefit from accurate charging point locations. Gareth Dunsmore, director of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe, said: “Since we launched the LEAF in 2010, our customers have collectively driven over three billion kilometres, saving more than 500 million kilograms of CO2 emissions in the process***. Our ‘Electrify the World’ initiative connects stories from these people who are living an electric lifestyle. “Few Nissan LEAF owners have been more vocal or accomplished as Plug In Adventures at demonstrating that electric vehicles can do so much more than the daily commute. We applaud this ambitious driving challenge and wish them a safe and enjoyable journey.”

April 2017 | motoring 09

CATERHAM TEAMS UP WITH HARRODS TO LAUNCH SIGNATURE PERSONALISATION PROGRAMME BRITISH CAR MANUFACTURER CATERHAM HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST PERSONALISATION PROGRAMME – CATERHAM SIGNATURE – WITH A SPECIAL EDITION SEVEN DESIGNED BY WORLD-FAMOUS DEPARTMENT STORE, HARRODS.

he Harrods special edition car includes a host of special features which demonstrate the breadth of options new Caterham buyers can add to their vehicles. These include paint colours and designs, dashboard and

interior styling, embroidery and even the colour of the chassis. The special edition Harrods Seven – a 420S under the skin – is painted in Harrods green, with a custom white stripe and gold pinstripe while, beneath the bodywork, the chassis has been powder-coated in gold. Inside the cockpit, the butterscotch leather upholstery also reflects Harrods’ colour scheme, while the store name is embroidered on the seat backs

and the Harrods ‘H’ adorns the gear knob. The car’s styling was created in conjunction with Harrods and its design team and buyers can pick one up in store along with their fashion and luxury items. Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “The Caterham Seven has always been one of the easiest cars on the road to personalise, because every car is hand-built and bespoke for each customer.

“But now we’ve formalised the personalisation options available to our customers into the Caterham Signature programme, which will outline the almost infinite combinations of options you can select. You can even have your name stitched into the seat. “A Caterham Seven isn’t a car you need to buy, it’s a car you buy because you want it. As such, we believe you should make it your own in every way. “Harrods is a global brand as proudly British as Caterham so it makes perfect sense that the very first Caterham Signature car has been created in partnership.” Guy Cheston, Media Director of Harrods, said: “Caterham is one of Great Britain’s most 10 motoring | April 2017

famous and instantly recognisable motoring brands and it has been a pleasure to partner with the team there to create this Harrods special edition of the legendary Seven. “We wanted to make our Harrods car a real object of desire, so our Harrods touches are subtle and understated and, at the same time, reflect genuine quality.” The Harrods Seven is on sale exclusively in the Knightsbridge store, while the Caterham Signature programme is available now to new customers looking to place their orders. For more information on Caterham Signature please visit http://www.caterham.co.uk

VOLKSWAGEN HEAD OF COMPACT CARS ON TIGUAN ALLSPACE, AUTONOMOUS CARS AND INDIVIDUALISATION THE VW TIGUAN AND CREATURE COMFORTS.

sound like much, two adults can seat quite comfortably in the back separated by a comfy central armrest with two cup holders. Airline style folding tables with pop out cup holders on the back of the front seats make this area a decent place to sit. Rear seat occupants also benefit from three-zone climate control so they can select their preferred temperature. There are plenty of other cubbies dotted around the cabin to store stuff, too.

iguans are not short of creature comforts. All come with manual air conditioning, power windows, rain sensing wipers, auto dimming rear view mirror, cruise control and daytime running lights with automatic headlamp beam control. The cockpit is jam-packed with the latest technology set out logically thereby making it easy to find your way around. It includes the carmaker's latest generation infotainment system itself based on the brand's Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB). By virtue of its MQB underpinnings (see below), the Tiguan features a so-called Active Info Display that will be familiar to drivers of Passat and Golf. This replaces the conventional analogue instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Driver information is supported by a zen-like retractable head-up display (HUD) integrated into top of the dashboard. The HUD info includes driving speed, current speed limit, direction arrows for navigation and indicators for the driver assistance systems. If you are a fan of steering wheel controls (guilty as charged, m'lud), you will love the option offered that allows you to operate the Tiguan's audio system, multifunction display and sat-nav while keeping both hands on the wheel. The front seats used the second-

12 motoring | April 2017

TIGUAN ALLSPACE

generation Tiguan are 20 percent lighter than the Mk1, thanks to the new design approaches that use novel materials and production methods. In addition, the wires that are woven in a complex pattern in the seat surface help to achieve light springing thereby improving occupant comfort, especially on bumpy roads. The front seats on the SEL were found to be heated while the driver side equipped with a 14-way seat adjustment, massage function. The foam contours of the seats have also been redesigned compared to the previous model. The contours offer better lateral support for

passengers and the foam offers a more flexible fit to the body. This five-door, five-seat SUV includes an adjustable 40:20:40 split rear seat bench. When the rear sliding seats are flipped down â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by either pulling a loose grip at the corner of either side of the rear bench or using a handy lever found in the boot side walls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this liberates some 1,655 litres of cargo space, 145 litres larger than Tiguan Mk1. The family-friendly rear seat occupant space of the Mk2 has been improved thanks to more headroom and 29 mm of extra knee room. While that doesn't

VW used the most recent Geneva motor show to extend its Tiguan model range by unveiling the Allspace, showing the model in an optional seven-seat version. With a 109 mm longer wheelbase and 215 mm longer exterior length, the new model version offers more space for luggage and passengers. The Allspace has more standard features than the previous Tiguan. For example, its Trendline base version has additional features such as roof rails (in black), the Composition Colour media system with Connectivity Package (phone and USB interfaces), a multifunction steering wheel, trapezoidal tailpipe trims, LED daytime running lights and a variable cargo floor.Trendline base version has additional features such as roof rails (in black), the Composition Colour media system with Connectivity Package (phone and USB interfaces), a multifunction steering wheel, trapezoidal tailpipe trims, LED daytime running lights and a variable cargo floor.