Motoring August 2018

IN THIS ISSUE: MERCEDES BENZ C-CLASS, NEVER STOP IMPROVING | MCLAREN 600LT IN STEALTH GREY BY MSO | MASERATI STARS AT THE 2018 MONTEREY CAR WEEK WITH THE NEW V8-POWERED LEVANTE GTS AND TROFEO SUVS | THE OPEL GRANDLAND X MAKES ENTRANCE INTO MALTA

The Malta Independent on Sunday. August 2018

Mercedes Benz C-Class Never Stop Improving also inside

Discover Campania’s dramatic coastline

CAMPANIA VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: TERREDORA

DISCOVER CAMPANIA’S DRAMATIC COASTLINE , IN SOUTHWESTERN ITALY, IS KNOWN FOR ITS DRAMATIC COASTLINE, ANCIENT RUINS AND DELICIOUS FOOD. NAPLES, THE REGIONAL CAPITAL, IS A BUSTLING CITY SET BETWEEN THE TOWERING MT. VESUVIUS AND THE DEEP BLUE WATERS OF THE BAY OF NAPLES. TO THE SOUTH, THE AMALFI COAST IS HOME TO PASTEL-HUED TOWNS SUCH AS SORRENTO, POSITANO, AND AMALFI, NESTLED BETWEEN CLIFFS AND THE SEA. TAKE A SPECTACULAR ROAD TRIP AND EXPLORE THE SORRENTO PENINSULA, DISCOVERING THE COAST OF ITALY AT YOUR OWN PACE, CRUISING ALONG SUNNY OCEAN-SIDE HIGHWAYS. CAMPNI

Naples Naples sits on the Bay of Naples, under Mount Vesuvius, the active volcano that destroyed nearby Pompeii.

Dating to the 2nd millennium B.C., Naples has centuries of important art and architecture including the city's cathedral, the Duomo di San Gennaro, the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle which houses the main city museum and offers some of the best views of Naples from its easily accessible roof. The Neapolitan National Gallery exhibits an internationally important collection of Baroque and Renaissance era paintings in

The Amalfi Coast is a 50kilometer stretch of coastline between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento, winding past grand villas, vineyards and cliffside lemon groves, dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages. the town of Amalfi is set below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast.

Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was the seat of a powerful maritime republic.

Amafli's Arab-Norman Sant'Andrea cathedral at the heart of town, with its striped Byzantine facade, survives from this era while the Museo Arsenale Amalfi is a medieval shipyard-turned-exhibition space.

Amalfi

Sorrento and Pompeii

Sorrento

daytrip and stop in at the Puntacampanella Natural Reserve before you tour the Pompeii ruins. You'll find yourself immersed in archeological sites like the Temple of Apollo, Via dei Sepolcri, Forum Granary, and the notorious House of the Tragic Poet.

Amalfi

a serene setting surrounded by a beautiful park. Hundreds of monumental churches and palazzos line the city streets. This is the place to try true Neapolitan pizza and mouthwatering Neapolitan baba.

Sorrento is perched on cliffs that separate the town from its busy marinas, and is known for sweeping water views and Piazza Tasso, a cafe-lined square.

The historic centre is a maze of narrow alleys and winding roads that's home to the Chiesa di

Naples

Salerno

San Francesco, a 14th-century church with a tranquil cloister.

Sorrento is a wonderful baseto

Pompeii

explore Pompeii and the stunning surrounding countryside. Take a Pompeii

Salerno The conclusion of a trip along the Amalfi Coast road will bring you to the historic city of Salerno. Salerno's vibrant centro storico is packed with medieval churches sharing space with neighbourhood trattorias, neonlit wine bars and tattoo parlours.

Visit the medieval Duomo of Salerno and enjoy the ancient streets and alleyways of the historical old town. Recent urban-regeneration programs centred on the historic neighbourhood feature a dramatic new ferry terminal designed by the late Zaha Hadid and a tree-lined seafront promenade which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe.

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CAMPANIA VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT:

Terredora

IS SITUATED NEAR THE VILLAGE OF MONTEFUSCO, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF CAMPANIA’S BEST WINE GROWING REGION WITH THE DENOMINATED AREAS OF TAURASI, AVELLINO (FIANO DI AVELLINO) AND TUFO (GRECO DI TUFO) ALL CLOSE BY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, MOUNTAINOUS AREA AND TERREDORA’S SUBSTANTIAL WINERY SITS ON A HILLSIDE LOOKING OUT OVER THE MOST FERTILE PART OF CAMPANIA.

ARODE T

Terredora has climbed quickly to the pinnacle of Campania’s wine production since 1992. In fact, it has an intriguing short history, being the product of a split in the Mastroberardino family who have dominated the Campania wine scene for several generations.

Walter Mastroberardino, with his children Paolo, Lucio and Daniela, went off and set up Terredora taking all the vineyards but leaving the cellars and the brand name behind. The result is that Terredora is the largest vineyard owner in Campania, with 180 hectares of vines. These are all within 15km of Montefusco, except one rented vineyard on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.

Terredora Di Paolo is a continuation of the ancient story of Campania, its people and their passion for their land and their winemaking. For us the land is central to our family. It represents our soul and the driving force behind the winery, which is why, year after year, we consider the harvest our greatest treasure. TERREDORA DI PAOLO has been on the forefront of the wine renaissance in Campania since 1978. This is a region that was famous for producing the best wines of the Roman Empire and Terredora Di Paolo is committed to re-establishing it to its former glory. They have been instrumental in reintroducing ancient grape varieties, promoting modern innovation

Eustilltaurasi, 1998 04 motoring | August 2018

Campania. Set on the ridge which divides the Sabato river valley from Calore, The winery is in Montefusco not by chance but due to the presence of its own estates in Santa Paolina, Montefusco, Montemiletto, Montefalcione, Lapio; neighbouring places which mark a sort of “wine route” among the 3 Irpinia’s Docg areas: Greco di Tufo, Taurasi e Fiano di Avellino.

Mastroberardino family

and training the men and women who will be responsible for carrying their vision into the future.

Today, with more than 120 hectares of vineyard land, Terredora Di Paolo is Campania’s largest wine producer and vineyard owner, with a worldwide reputation for the quality of its wines. Their commitment to excellence was proven in 1994 when they decided to vinify their own grapes. This decision was prompted by their belief that great wine comes from the balance of natural resources: terrain, varieties used, climate and man’s ability to work with nature.

The winery is nestled in the enchanting landscape of Serra in Montefusco, in Avellino province, which is the most hilly and mountainous among the 5 districts of

Walter Mastroberardino

GRECO DI TUFO DOCG, LOGGIA DELLA SERRA, TERREDORA DIPAULO.

A superb wine from Campania with almond and smoky aromas then succulent, sugary grapefruit in the mouth, but entirely dry. Greco is the grape, Tufo is the village situated in a mountainous area of volcanic soils.

Plan a visit. Visit Terredora Winery: Via Serra s.n.c., Montefusco, Italy. Email: info@terredora.com Locally Terredora 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/sistinawineco TEL: 2131 4161

THE OPEL GRANDLAND X MAKES ENTRANCE INTO MALTA

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he latest model in the Opel stable is now in Malta as Motors Inc. officially launched the AllNew Grandland X this month. The much-awaited SUV introduces forward-looking aesthetics and engineering with exceptional running costs.

The Opel Grandland X breaks from the crossover breed by presenting an extraordinarily well-equipped standard specification with great interior space design and top safety features. Opel cut no corners developing a compact SUV for

all the family enjoying a sporty, secure, and solid ride to driver as well as the passengers.

Distinctively German in its construction, the car exterior has an athletic, rugged design with stark lines and flowing slopes in the bodywork. The All-New Grandland X complements Opel’s recognisable dynamic visual cues with fresh design details around the headlights, in the accentuated roofline, and the dipping rear panel.

The energetic design concept is applied to the interior too with fluid edges and surfacing made from high-quality material. The

Grandland X is a no-nonsense model and all features in it are developed with functionality and convenience in mind, giving the driver a complete hold on the road aided by innovative technology and intelligent systems.

The cabin space is cleverly laid out to comfortably sit five adults even for long journeys. The generous boot volume, easyloading flat door, and multiple seat-arrangement options make the Grandland X perfect for busy, on-the-go lifestyles with constantly changing carriage needs.

The All-New model received the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating with excellent results in all four areas of testing: adult occupancy, child occupancy, pedestrian, and safety assist. With an already outstanding safety package as basic, the Grandland X offers additional smart features including Automatic Emergency Braking; intelligent AFL LED headlamps that brighten the road without blinding oncoming traffic; and Driver Drowsiness Alert.

Known for its precision engineering, Opel produces an extensive range of highly-efficient

engines that do not compromise on performance and feel.

Starting from €24,900, the AllNew Grandland X inherits this legacy and is available in a variety of powertrain options.

A well-built, handsome compact SUV, the Grandland X takes a different approach to urban and extra-urban driving.

For further information about the All-New Opel Grandland X, kindly visit the Opel showroom in Mdina Road, Qormi – call on 22692122– send email to opelsales@motorsinc.com.mt – log on the Opel Malta Facebook Page.

‘MCLAREN 600LT IN STEALTH GREY BY MSO’ • STRIKING NEW MCLAREN 600LT WITH BESPOKE PERSONALISATION BY MCLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS (MSO) TO MAKE ITS GLOBAL DEBUT ON THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCEPT LAWN ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 • STEALTH GREY CAR FEATURES BOTH MSO DEFINED AND MSO BESPOKE OPTIONS TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE TRACK-FOCUSED CHARACTER OF THE MCLAREN 600LT • EXTENSIVE USE OF CARBON FIBRE, INCLUDING ROOF SCOOP INSPIRED BY LEGENDARY MCLAREN F1 LONGTAIL AND SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON FIBRE RACING SEATS FROM THE MCLAREN SENNA • MSO OFFERS LIMITLESS BESPOKE POSSIBILITIES TO FULFIL CUSTOMER VISIONS 06 motoring | August 2018

The show-stopping ‘McLaren 600LT in Stealth Grey by MSO’, produced by bespoke division McLaren Special Operations, is set to have its global reveal on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this Sunday, August 26.

Finished in a Stealth Grey MSO Bespoke paint, this unique car features a wide selection of upgrades from both the MSO Defined catalogue of options and MSO Bespoke customer choices, giving a preview of how much personalisation can be incorporated into McLaren’s lightest, most powerful road-legal Sports Series car.

Introduced in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the McLaren 600LT epitomises the McLaren philosophy of producing lightweight sportscars and supercars that deliver extreme performance and exceptional driver engagement. Featuring the unique LT top-

exit exhaust, the car delivers 600PS and can sprint to 60mph in just 2.8 seconds on its way to a maximum speed of 204mph.

The exterior of the car is distinguished by a Stealth Grey Bespoke paint finish with a Matt Black and McLaren Orange Exterior Pack to accent the car’s aerodynamic features.The iconic Visual Carbon Fibre Roof Scoop, inspired by the legendary McLaren F1 Longtail, is a key MSO Bespoke addition and operates as a fully functional air intake system that invigorates the driving experience with its active air induction sound. A track telemetry camera is also seamlessly integrated into the scoop cover to record inspirational moments.

Other MSO Defined options on the car include all three Carbon Fibre Upgrade packs available for the 600LT, which include door mirrors, exterior door inserts front splitter, rear bumper, diffuser, and rear deck and service cover. An MSO Defined

Carbon Fibre Roof and Cantrails, plus Carbon Fibre Front Fender Louvres – which help to further reduce weight – are also fitted. Ultra-Lightweight 10-spoke Forged Alloy Wheels with a Gloss Black finish complete the overall ‘Stealth’ look.

Inside, the occupants are reminded of the 600LT’s track-focused heritage with a myriad of MSO touches including SuperLightweight Carbon Fibre Racing Seats – taken straight from the McLaren Senna – featuring a McLaren Orange contrast stitch to mirror the exterior striping; a Carbon Fibre Interior Upgrade Pack including central tunnel and door insert panels; and the harness bar and 6-point harnesses from the MSO Clubsport Pro Pack.

The interior’s character is further transformed by the presence of the visual carbon fibre roof scoop cover incorporated into the headliner and the twin visual carbon fibre intake hoses for the scoop that are seamlessly integrated into the 600LT’s cabin design.

Adding a touch of extra luxury is the upgraded 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Audio System for enjoying those drives to the track, while beautiful detail touches that complete the picture include Bespoke Embroidery in the headrests, the discrete etching of ‘600LT’ on the throttle pedal and a Bespoke set of hand-painted keys that unlock the passport to 600LT adventures.

For information about the McLaren 600LT or to learn more about the services offered by McLaren Special Operations, go to: http://cars.mclaren.com/

MASERATI STARS AT THE 2018 MONTEREY CAR WEEK WITH THE NEW V8-POWERED LEVANTE GTS AND TROFEO SUVS • AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK, ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE V8 VERSIONS OF THE LEVANTE SUV, THE FIRST IN MASERATI'S CENTURY-PLUS HISTORY • THE LEVANTE GTS IS THE LATEST IN MASERATI INNOVATION: WITH A 550HP V8 ENGINE AND Q4 INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE • THE LEVANTE TROFEO IS THE TOP-OF-THERANGE MASERATI SUV, WITH SUPREME PERFORMANCES DELIVERING THRILLING DRIVING EXPERIENCES: 590HP V8 ENGINE, 0-100 KM/H IN JUST 3.9 SECONDS AND A TOP SPEED OF OVER 300 KM/H, IN PERFECT COMFORT AND WITH IMPECCABLE MASERATI STYLE, AND, AGAIN, Q4 INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE • THE FASTEST LEVANTE OF ALL TIME IS INITIALLY INTENDED FOR OVERSEAS EXPORT MARKETS, INCLUDING THE U.S. AND CANADA

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he new Maserati Levante GTS and Trofeo will be star attractions at the 2018 Monterey Car Week, which also incorporates the famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance for classic cars.

After its European "vernissage" at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the 550hp Levante GTS now comes to California for the prestigious event that attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. The most powerful Maserati SUV – the 590hp Levante Trofeo – was presented earlier this year at the 2018 New York International Auto Show in April.

The programme will include a large number of test drives and society gatherings at some of the Californian coast's top locations.

What’s more, from 22 to 26 August Maserati will be involved in a whole series of activities in the area.

Maserati has chosen the Monterey Car Week for these events because this annual festival is the USA's top automotive gathering and one of the largest

Trofeo powers from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of over 300 km/h.

Like all Maserati petrol engines, this V8 is produced by Ferrari in Maranello.

In terms of looks, the Levante’s unmistakable design reaches new levels of sportiness in the Trofeo version and the GTS has adopted the same line, noticeable above all in the restyled lower front fascia and rear bumper, providing a sportier yet

sophisticated presence.

Specific details of the Levante Trofeo, like the lower splitter, the side blades in the front air intakes, the side skirt inserts and the rear extractor, are made of ultralight, high-gloss carbon fibre, further underlining this model's racing look. The bonnet is new, featuring two aggressive air intakes for better cylinder head cooling. Inside the Levante Trofeo cabin, a wealth of elegant features create an environment

of pure luxury. The sculpted sport seats again feature a premium full-grain “Pieno Fiore” natural leather available in black, red and tan, all with contrast stitching and “Trofeo” logo embroidered on the headrests.

The Levante Trofeo is built at the refurbished Maserati plant in Mirafiori, Turin. The fastest Levante of all time is initially intended for overseas export markets, including the U.S. and Canada.

worldwide.

Car enthusiasts are attracted not only by the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance but also by the whole corollary of prestigious events organised during the week, many of them charitable fundraisers, where all the great and good of the international automotive industry may be found.

Maintaining the V90° architecture, the 3.8-litre eightcylinder Twin Turbo engine of the Levante GTS has been reengineered to work with the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System and retuned to deliver 550hp at 6,250 rpm and 730 Nm peak torque between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. The Levante GTS surges from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of over 292 km/h.

The Levante Trofeo is “the Maserati of SUVs” as it is driven by one of the most powerful engines ever installed in a Maserati: the 3,799 cc V8 Twin Turbo with Q4 Intelligent AllWheel Drive system delivers a massive 590hp at 6,250 rpm, with a peak torque of 730 Nm at 2,250 rpm. The Levante August 2018 | motoring 07

Mercedes Benz C-Class

NEVER STOP IMPROVING THE NEW-LOOK MERCEDES BENZ C-CLASS RANGE COMBINES EMOTIONALITY WITH INTELLIGENCE. THE DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR BENEFITS FROM A STYLISH MAKEOVER WHILST THE ELECTRONIC ARCHITECTURE IS COMPLETELY NEW.

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he vehicle’s appearance is defined in particular by its front and the design of the headlamps and tail lights. With the model facelift, the AMG line features the diamond radiator grille as standard. The front bumpers have been redesigned for all lines. These new designs render the EXCLUSIVE exterior even more expressive and lend the AVANTGARDE exterior a yet more dynamic character.

The C-Class has a new display concept which includes an optional, fully-digital instrument cluster with the three visually distinguishable styles “Classic”, “Sport” and “Progressive”. For the first time, a high-resolution central display in 16:9 format is available, with a 10.25-inch screen diagonal and a resolution of 1920x720 pixels. The C-Class has touch-sensitive controls in the steering wheel. The infotainment system can additionally be operated via the touchpad with controller in the centre console or by means of LINGUATRONIC voice control.

The sporty interior exudes class, featuring flowing forms in a new interpretation of modern luxury. The centre console is characterised by an elegant flowing trim element – optionally with new materials: open-pore brown walnut or open-pore anthracite oak. The Multicontour Seat package is new. With this package, the side bolsters and lumbar support can be individually adjusted by means of an electrically driven pneumatic pump. A massage effect in the lumbar area is provided by air chambers which are inflated and deflated in a pulsing or wave-like motion when the function is activated.

The new C-Class features the latest Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems offering the driver cooperative

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support, and therefore provides a higher level of active safety than its predecessor. The new C-Class comes with extended Active Brake Assist as standard. Depending on the situation, this can help to mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions with slow-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead, and even with crossing pedestrians and cyclists, or prevent them altogether.

For the starting price & technical specifications of the New Mercedes Benz C-Class range please visit www.autosales.com.mt or contact Kind’s – Auto Sales Ltd on 21433601 to book a test drive.