Motoring February 2014 by The Malta Independent

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The Malta Independent on Sunday • 23 February 2014

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The Alfa Romeo 4C keeps re-affirming itself as the most beautiful Six new accolades in just three months fter readers of the specialised German magazine 'Auto Zeitung' named the new Alfa Romeo 4C winner of the "Imported Sportscars" category in the 26th edition of 'Auto Trophy' and men’s lifestyle magazine FHM Magazine in the UK named the Alfa Romeo 4C "Car of the Year 2013", the Alfa Romeo 4C started off 2014 with four new accolades that keep confirming this model as the most admired and desirable of all. In France, the Alfa Romeo 4C won the prestigious grand award being named the 'Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013' at the 29thInternational Automobile Festival. The 4C was elected in a worldwide Internet survey conducted with the collaboration of multimedia partners of the event Le Point, Auto Addict, Automobiles Classiques, AD and JC Decaux. In Germany, the readers of the specialist magazine 'Auto, Motor und Sport' chose the Alfa Romeo 4C to receive the title of 'Best Cars 2014' in the Importers ranking – 'sports cars' category – ahead of 28 other models and super sports cars. In voting for the 'Best Cars 2014', more than 115,000 readers chose the Alfa Romeo 4C as the most exciting import sports car of the year as a model that ‘represents the essential sportiness embedded in the 'Alfa Romeo

DNA': performance and technical excellence for maximum driving pleasure combined with a breathtaking style.’ And only very recently, 'Motor' weekly and 'Auto Moto' monthly in Poland, published the results of the 'Auto Lider 2013' competition, in which Polish readers were asked to express their preference for their favourite car models, technological innovations and automotive marketing projects of 2013. A total of over 160 thousand votes were cast on the web and

in texts. The first prize for the readers of both magazines in the 'Sports cars and convertibles' sector went to the Alfa Romeo 4C well ahead of the other 20 finalists in this category: the beguiling Italian supercar was followed on the podium by BMW 4 series and Porsche 911 Turbo S, second and third in the ranking, respectively. The Alfa Romeo 4C, which will be launched in Australia later this year, has also claimed the highest prize in the Sports Car category of the ‘Le auto che preferisco’

(The cars I like) from Italian monthly Quattroruote. The 4C was designed by Alfa Romeo engineers and is built at the Maserati plant in Modena, Italy. It features extensive use of lightweight materials including carbon fibre to give it a total dry weight of just 895kg. The sports coupe accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 258km/h. An optimal weight distribution of 40 per cent over the front axle and 60 per cent over the rear aids its racecar-like handling.

Hyundai Motor Europe wins prestigious AUTOBEST award with New Generation i10 • Expert jury impressed with space, quality and handling of new Hyundai car • Prestigious title awarded by motoring journalists from 15 emerging markets yundai Motor Europe has just collected the 2014 AUTOBEST trophy at an awards ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, two months after the expert jury named the Hyundai New Generation i10 as the winner of the prestigious title. Described by the AUTOBEST jury as a ‘spacious’ and high-quality car’, New Generation i10 is the second Hyundai model to have

claimed the title in the last three years, following the Elantra’s win in 2012. Byung Kwon Rhim, President of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented: “It’s a great honour for Hyundai to win this award with New Generation i10. It offers standards of style, equipment and craftsmanship that are traditionally only found in segments above. New Generation i10 has been well-received by

media across Europe and has already attracted new customers to the brand. Recognition such as the AUTOBEST award motivates us to continue designing, developing and building new models that meet the specific needs of European buyers.” In 2013, Hyundai Motor Europe achieved registrations of 422.930 units, taking a new-car market share of 3,4%. Almost 95% of the vehicles Hyundai sells in the region are designed, engineered and tested in Europe to meet the needs of European customers. Hyundai sells cars in 30 European countries across 2.500 outlets. In September 2013, the first New Generation i10 rolled off the production line at Hyundai’s Turkish factory. The start of New

Generation i10 production at the plant followed more than €500 million investment in the plant which also raised annual capacity to 200.000 units. Between its Turkish and Czech facilities, Hyundai can manufacture 500.000 units per year, and 90% of all Hyundai models sold in Europe are now built in the region.

AUTOBEST is one of the most prestigious motoring awards and takes into account 13 criteria, including the design, price, specification and serviceability of a car. The jury is composed of respected motoring journalists from 15 emerging markets, including Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey and Russia.

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 23 February 2014

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Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa kicks off Mdina Grand Prix Sponsorship in style – registration is now open otel General Manager David Woodward presented with the first ‘paddock pass’ of 2014. Last weekend the Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa in Attard officially kick-started the hotel’s sponsorship of the highly-anticipated Mdina Grand Prix by welcoming many of the event’s future participants. The cars zoomed up to the hotel on their weekly outing, so their drivers could enjoy a cool drink in the sunshine. “Our Sunday spin is a regular ritual for us,” explains Ivan Bartolo, the public relations representative for the Mdina Grand Prix.

“So, last week we decided to spend some time at the Corinthia Palace so as to thank them for the incredible support they have given us so far. We plan to return very regularly now, especially as we all had such a great time on Sunday.” Last weekend’s outing also marked the launch of the Mdina Grand Prix’s official brochure for this year, which will be used to promote the event in the months to come. David Woodward, the Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa’s general manager, was also presented with the first ‘paddock pass’ of the year, which will give him full access to enjoy the Grand Prix’s ‘backstage’ area

throughout the event come October. “There are still a few months to go until this wonderful event kicks off in earnest, but already we are so excited to be part of it,” says Mr Woodward. “It was fantastic to welcome so many members of the team to our hotel last weekend, and we look forward to seeing them again very soon.” The next Mdina Grand Prix will take place from 5 to 12 October 2014 and the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation would like to announce that the entries for this year's Mdina Grand Prix are open for interested participants. This year it has been decided by the organisers that the number of

entries will be limited to slightly less than the years before. Although the entries will still be accepted on a first come first served basis, a further choice will have to take place selecting the more interesting candidates to make the event even more spectacular. The closing date for applications is the 31st of August. http://www.vallettagp.com/EN.2014_VGP_Re gistration_Form.aspx Enquires for the 2014 event participation are kindly requested to contact Josef Abela on +356 9947 7735 or on josef.abela@vallettagp.com

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 23 February 2014

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CITROEN’S LATEST PICASSO: right up there with the best MPV’s Text & photos by John Peel

irst impressions are positive, with a light and airy interior emphasised by the large glass area and panoramic windscreen. This latest Citroen C4 Picasso is of a spacious and comfortable car, with the added

bonus of a super smooth ride. The Citroen C4 Picasso's bold, modern design is genuinely eyecatching, making it an MPV that really does stand out from the crowd. It's lower and shorter than the previous generation of C4

Picasso, but actually has an extra 2” between the front and rear wheels, which creates more space inside the car. In fact, it even has the largest boot in the compact-MPV class, plus a range of engines that are very efficient and a high-quality interior that is surprisingly stylish. The latest C4 Picasso has a more comfortable ride and comfier seats than the previous model, generally proving to be improved in all areas of comfort – it even drives over the roughest roads without any major bumps or shudder. It does though feel soft and leans a bit when driven at higher speeds but is still a very quiet drive with hardly any audible wind noise. Passengers also have plenty of space in both the front and the back and with the car on test the passenger also gets an electrically extendable leg rest. Storage spaces abound, including the central console, large doorbins and under the seats and rear floor, as well as three 12V sockets to power the battery of electronic devices essential to family travel. The facia is dominated by two digital displays in the centre. The 12” upper one presents information such as speed and fuel, together with driver-customisable data. A 7” touchscreen controls functions such as airconditioning, navigation and radio. I found it a bit daunting for starters but eventually found out it is quite easy to use once you’re accustomed to it. It certainly beats being presented with many scattered dials. The car on offer sported an automatic gearbox with the added surprise of switching to a

semi-automatic system on the fly. Gear change is carried out via two paddle levers one on each side of the steering wheel without the need to depress any clutch pedal – in effect there isn’t one. Very novel yet after trying it out one would probably switch back to full auto as I did. Although it does offer you the chance to shift up or down when you desire actual gear, without a manual clutch the actual changeover is still much slower than on a full manual. Cars in this sector that looks especially cool make you wonder what sacrifices might have been made inside in terms of space, flexibility and usability. Luckily, the C4 Picasso excels in this category. You get a big boot that offers 537 litres of space, more space than its major rivals. Even better, the three rear seats can be slid forward individually to expand the boot to 630 litres or to increase legroom depending on your needs at any given time. Or, of course, you can fold them flat to expand the total capacity to an impressive 1,851 litres. All three rear seats are the exact same size, which makes it easy to sit three adults comfortably at once, and also to easily fit three child seats, likely to be a key factor for many growing families. Definitely a car for a growing family the Picasso, unlike some rivals, does not try to disguise the fact that it first and foremost an MPV. It rolls in corners, over steers slightly and in no way does it pretend to be a sporty drive, but hits top marks in all areas meant to make it a comfortable and spacious vehicle along with a frugal fuel consumption.

New generation Hyundai i10 launched in Malta The 2014 Hyundai i10, a major new entry into the city car market he outgoing Hyundai i10 was a popular model amongst Maltese buyers, and the challenge of this new-generation model is to appeal to those existing valueoriented customers, while bringing enough gains in quality and refinement to be at the top of the Segment A.” This was stated by Francesca Mamo, Managing Director of Meridien Enterprises, importers and distributers of Hyundai in Malta during the launch event for the media to introduce the newly arrived New Generation Hyundai i10 in Malta. “The biggest gains of all between the old generation of i10 and this model come in the interior, with its new refined and luxurious environment. Where the i10 leaves all its rivals trailing is in the amount of passenger space it offers; this is a car that

could keep four six-footers comfortable on any journey. The new Hyundai i10 represents a major step forward over its predecessor – to the point where it may be considered a cut above many competitors in the same segment.” “The i10 is more spacious and refined, and it feels significantly classier than many other models in the same segment. The New Hyundai i10 has already been showered with awards. Like all Hyundai s, the new i10 comes with a five-year unlimitedmileage warranty, five years of roadside assistance cover and five years of annual vehicle heath checks,” added Francesca Mamo. Francesca Mamo referred to the recent awards and accolades that the new Hyundai i10 model has been garnering. “After scooping the 'Best City

Car' category during CarBuyer’s recent awards, the new generation Hyundai i10 was also named ‘Car of the Year 2014’. CarBuyer, a leading car review website, awarded the overall title after the judges praised the i10 for its quality, refinement, style and value.” “And the latest accolade was Top Gear’s ‘Bargain of the Year’ award, a coveted prize awarded to the Hyundai i10 thanks to its “ability to provide customers with small-car buying and running costs without any of the associated compromises to refinement, comfort and build quality.” Piers Ward, road test editor at BBC Top Gear magazine said this of the new generation Hyundai i10: “Customers might want luxuries and gadgets, but they expect refinement. The i10 absolutely delivers on the valuefor-money premise. It is

definitely not a car with the build quality of a biscuit tin. The fit and finish is excellent, it looks great and is comfortable and spacious – for these reasons it stood out as a worthy winner.” “In a few words therefore the general consensus by all motoring experts seems to be that the 2014 Hyundai i10 is a brilliant car, offering a real grown-up feel and plenty of space. It is fun to drive and the perfect embodiment of ‘modern premium’, which is after all Hyundai’s vision. It is the perfect car for those who want only the best contender in the Segment A at a very impressive price and an exhaustive list of standard features . The Hyundai i10 is indeed a car that yet again, has managed to exceed expectations,” concluded Francesca Mamo. The new model, Hyundai’s first one for 2014 is now in Malta

and till the 15th of February, is being launched at a special introductory price of €10,500. The new i10 is very appealing to the younger generation due to its sporty character, with an

option of blue or orange interior. Standard features include A/C, power steering, front electric windows, the latest technology in braking system such as Vehicle Stability

Management and all round six airbags. Other extras include heated leather steering wheel, smart card with Button Start and cruise control with speed limiter provide bigger-car

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 23 February 2014

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The FMVA Vintage Motors Festival 2014 Rabat Malta to Rabat Gozo he Federazzjoni Maltija Vetturi Antiki will be organizing the 6th Vintage Motors Festival in Malta and Gozo this year on Saturday and Sunday the 15th and 16th of March. Over 130 vintage vehicles are expected to participate. The event will comprise a Regularity Run starting in Rabat Malta and ending in Rabat Gozo as well as three static vehicle shows that will be held in the main squares of Nadur, Rabat and Xaghra from 9.00am to 3.30pm. The public will be able to feast their eyes on some of the best kept and restored vehicles of yesteryear. These will also include a good selection of European, American and WW2 vehicles. The Malta leg of the Regularity Run will start at 2.30pm from the car park in Rabat opposite the Domus Romana, and follow a scenic route to a half way halt at

Ta’ Qali to eventually finish in Mellieha by 4.00pm. The Gozo leg of the Regularity Run will start the following day in Ghajnsielem at 10.00am and will proceed to Marsalforn for the half way break. The route will then continue from there to the finish in Rabat (Victoria), at about 12.30 pm. Once all participants have made the finish they will proceed together to Nadur square in their vehicles, where another show will be held till 3.00pm when the prize giving ceremony, presided over by the Hon Minister for Gozo Dr. Anton Refalo will take place. The event is being organized by the FMVA and its member clubs and supported by the Ministry for Gozo as well as the Rabat, Ghajnsielem, Nadur, Victoria and Xaghra Local Councils. The Federazzjoni Maltija Vetturi Antiki was set up in 1998 and today comprises the American Automobile Club, Gozo Military

Club, Historic Motorcycle Club, Military Vehicles Collectors Club, Old Motors Club and the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation. Over the years it has been instrumental in lobbying on behalf of all local vintage vehicle enthusiasts for

better conditions and concessions. Furthermore the FMVA acts as a consultant to the competent authorities on matters related to the importation, ownership, authentication and use of veteran, vintage and classic

vehicles on the Island. The FMVA is an official member of the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), and has been officially appointed as the ANF (National FIVA Authority) for Malta & Gozo.

Equipment and features

control, DAB digital tuner, heated retractable door mirrors and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Where Invincible grade models are concerned, customers can now choose between black or a new beige leather seat upholstery. All round protection has been made standard, thanks to front parking sensors in addition to those at the rear. Toyota has also made the 10spoke 18-inch alloy wheel design standard for the 2WD model. Established features of the

Invincible grade include heated front seats, power slide, and lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat. As a result of the new, larger wheels, the CO2 figure for the 2.0-litre D-4D twowheel drive models increases fractionally, but with no impact on the VED rating. For more information on Toyota Rav 4 and the Toyota line-up visit the Toyota showroom situated in Mdina Road, Zebbug, log on the Toyota Malta Facebook page or call on 2269 4000.

Toyota Rav4 t has been 20 years since Toyota created a whole new motoring market with the launch of the RAV4, the original compact recreational SUV. While other manufacturers have been keen to follow Toyota’s lead, RAV4 continues to develop and deliver specifications and choices that keep pace with the changing customer demand. The inspiration for the new RAV4, is building on the model’s inherent strengths starting with a new power train and even higher equipment specifications.

New 2.0 D-4D with allwheel drive Customers choosing Toyota’s efficient 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine for their RAV4 only had the option of two-wheel drive. For 2014 this popular unit has been made available with allwheel drive, increasing access to 4×4 motoring with the kind of low emissions and strong fuel economy that help keep running costs down. The new RAV4 2.0 D-4D AWD is available in Icon and Invincible grades. The 122bhp engine generates 310Nm for the kind of flexible driving performance that

makes the car as easy to manage around town or out on the open road. Coupled to a six-speed manual transmission it returns an official combined cycle figure of 137g/km and 53.3mpg. (Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty)

Toyota Touch 2 All versions of RAV4 bar the entry level Active model are equipped as standard with the Toyota Touch 2, the latest evolution of Toyota’s touchscreen-operated multimedia system. It comes with a new highresolution screen that uses four times as many pixels as the original system, for bright, sharp images. The package includes Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls, and sending / receiving text messages, a rear-view camera, vehicle information including trip data, a climate control profile, and management of settings for door locking and lighting. It also enables simple connection of iPods and MP3 players via USB or Bluetooth, and where available, will display album artist and track information. Audio system options, such as the radio and CD player, can also be controlled using the screen.

Both Icon and Invincible versions of the RAV4 benefit from extra equipment and styling features. Icon models adopt keyless entry and easy pushbutton start as standard, together with new 2-tone 18-inch alloy wheels – fitted to the two-wheel as well as all-wheel drive cars. This builds on an equipment list that also includes dual-zone climate control automatic headlights and wipers, cruise

The Malta Independent on Sunday • 23 February 2014

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? research by John Peel

MASERATI BITURBO (1981-1994)

‘After the head-turning looks of models like the Bora and Khamsin, the Biturbo looked quite dull’

he Maserati Biturbo (Tipo 116) is a sports car introduced by Maserati in 1981. The Biturbo is a two-door, four-seater notchback coupe (of somewhat smaller dimensions than the BMW 3 Series of the time) featuring, as the name implies, a two-litre V6 engine with two turbochargers and a luxurious interior. The car was designed by Pierangelo Andreani, an engineer from the De Tomaso team, somewhat influenced by the design of the newer Quattroporte III (Italdesign Giugaro), as can be observed on the front fascia. All Maserati models from the Biturbo's introduction in 1981 until 1997 (except the Quattroporte III) were based on the original Biturbo architecture, among them the fourdoor 420/425 and 4.24v, the Spyder, the Karif, the 228 and 2.24v, the Maserati Racing and the later Shamal and Ghibli II, as well as Maserati Barchetta which used an ultimate version of the V6 engine.

HISTORY When Alejandro de Tomaso acquired Maserati in 1976, he had ambitious plans for the marque. His plan was to combine the prestige of the Maserati brand with

Maserati biturbo 1991

a sports car that would be more affordable than the earlier highpriced models that had traditionally made up the Maserati range. In fact, Maserati ceased making supercars like the ones developed under Citroën ownership altogether, like the Bora and Khamsin. The Biturbo was initially a strong seller and brought Italian prestige to a wide audience, with sales of about 40,000 units. Sales figures fell in subsequent years. De Tomaso also used another of his companies, Innocenti, to produce Biturbo body panels and also to provide final assembly of Biturbos. De Tomaso later sold Maserati to Fiat, who grouped the company with their erstwhile rival Ferrari. Export versions came initially with a 2.5L V6, after 1989 it was enlarged to 2.8 litres, while for Italy a two-litre high-performance version was originally produced (to avoid the 38% sales tax imposed at the time on cars displacing more than 2000 cc). The aluminum 90-degree SOHC V6 engine was roughly based on the 2.0 L Merak engine, itself based on earlier V8 Formula One Maserati engines, designed by Giulio Alfieri (1924–2002). The carbureted 2.5L engine produced 185 bhp and

208 lb•ft (282 Nm) of torque in North American spec and slightly more elsewhere. Fuel injection was fitted in 1987 raising power to 187 bhp. In 1989 the 2.8L engine bumped power to 225 bhp and 246 lb•ft (334 Nm) of torque for North America and 250 bhp for Europe. The Biturbo is number 28 in the BBC book of “Crap Cars” and in 2007 was selected as Time Magazine’s worst car of 1984, although they ranked the Chrysler TC by Maserati as a "greater ignominy". The Biturbo competed unsuccessfully in the British Touring Car Championship in the late 1980s, the European Touring Car Championship and the World Touring Car Championship (1987).

Biturbo engines The Maserati Biturbo was the first ever production twinturbocharged engine. The 2-litre version featured wet aluminium sleeves coated with Nikasil. The last street version featured over 150 bhp/litre and 140 ft•lbf (190 Nm•)/litre torque. A V6 1996cc DOHC 36-valve (6 valves per cylinder) engine was developed but never manufactured.

Biturbo The first Biturbo version was introduced in December 1981 as a two-door coupe. The Biturbo name disappeared when the car was significantly redesigned in 1988 and after 1994 became the Ghibli II.

420/425/430 Two years after Biturbo introduction was unveiled a fourdoor family version. This version has a longer wheelbase, 2.6 metres (100 in). The four-door version was replaced in 1994 with the Maserati Quattroporte IV.

Spyder The Spyder (Tipo 333) version was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1984. The car was designed and built by Zagato, their first work for Maserati since the A6G/2000 of thirty years earlier. Also Carrozzeria Embo was commissioned to develop a four-

seater cabriolet version of the Biturbo, but this never made it into production. The Spyder version has a shorter wheelbase, 2.4 metres (94 in). Still, since it is a strict twoseater with folding rear seats, the luggage space is larger than in the original Biturbo. On this shorter chassis the sporty hardtop Karif was later developed. Overall 3,076 were built over a ten-year period, setting a production record for Maserati Spyders.

228 The Maserati 228 is a two-door Gran Turismo model, targeting the same markets as had earlier bought 3500GTs and Mexicos. The 228 was introduced at the 1986 Turin Motor Show, it uses the longer four-door chassis and the bigger 2.8-litre biturbo engine in a two-door coupe form with a more luxurious interior than the usual two-door cars. 469 examples of the 228 were built up until 1992.