Motoring July 2018

IN THIS ISSUE: MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL REVEALED AS NAME OF WORLD’S FIRST HYPER-GT | COMFORT REDEFINED NEW RANGE-TOPPING LAURIN & KLEMENT MODELS | BMW X2 XDRIVE20D, AN IMPOSING COUPE SUV WITH BAGS OF CHARACTER | A WORLD PREMIERE IN SHANGHAI: PORSCHE PRESENTS THE NEW MACAN | SMART EQ, BE FIRST. DRIVE ELECTRIC

The Malta Independent on Sunday. July 2018

smart EQ

BE FIRST. DRIVE ELECTRIC. also inside

Discover Splendid SARDINIA

SARDINIA VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT: SELLA & MOSCA

SPLENDID

SARDINIA

RUGGED COASTS, SEDUCTIVE BEACHES, ANCIENT FORESTS – SARDIN 'S SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND LONG WINDING ROADS BEG FOR A ROAD TRIP. HERE IS A QUICK ‘COAST TO COAST’ ITINERARY, WHICH STARTING FROM CAGLIARI FOLLOWS THE WESTERN COAST.

Cagliari Cagliari is the capital city of Sardinia and is known for the hilltop Castello, a medieval walled quarter situated high over the rest of the town which is built on seven hills which slope down towards the sea.

Spend hours strolling through its narrow streets in the historic quarters, taking time to try delicious meals in the many small restaurants and eateries, and end up sunbathing at Poetto beach - 7 kilometres of Cagliari

The Vajolet towers are six summits in the Dolomites in Val di Fassa

which once served as film locations for Westerns, and also ancient Phoenician cities (Tharros) and archaeological giant stone statues (the Giants of Mont’e Prama).

white sandy beach, the favourite destination for every native of Cagliari - “Cagliaritani” all year around.

Alghero and the Coral Riviera

Pula and Chia Driving south-west for 30 km between the extensive wetlands known as “Stagno di Cagliari” and the coast of the “Golfo degli Angeli” brings you to Pula, a lively resort town with beautiful beaches and home to one of the most important

Giants of Mont’e Prama

archaeological sites on the island, the ancient city of Nora.

Nearby Chia has a spectacular coastline with sand dunes and beautiful beaches including Campana, Cala Cipolla, Spiaggia del Morto and Su Giudeu.

Costa Verde Past Cape Spartivento, the southernmost point of the island, you can drive up the coast following the spectacular scenic road stopping at Tuerredda, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean and, further along, Porto Pino, famous for its extensive dunes. The Sulcis area

Porto Giunco Beach, Villassimius

Riviera del Corallo

is splendidly unspoilt, its gem being the Costa Verde which includes pristine nature, uncrowded beaches and breathtaking views. The Costa Verde, also known as Marina di Arbus extends for approximately 50 km from Capo Pecora and Portixeddu to Capo Frasca.

The Sinis Peninsula and Bosa Following the coastal road bordering the Costa Verde brings you to the Sinis Peninsula, a Marine Protected Area with quartz sand beaches such as Maimoni and Is Arutas. This area is home to quaint villages

Driving north from Bosa along the coast you will reach Alghero in less than an hour, a fortified town with a charming old town.

An enclave of Catalan language and culture, this “little Barcelona” is set against a typical Sardinian backdrop: the Riviera del Corallo is marked by sandy bays and rocky promontories with splendid beaches and caves.

The Costa Smeralda, Ogliastra, Costa Rei and Villasimius Driving east from Alghero brings you to Castelsardo and Santa Teresa di Gallura and then Costa Smeralda. The SS125 is a panoramic road leading through the Supramonte which will bring you to the Ogliastra area, a gem of fascinating traditions and natural beauty set between sea and mountains. Ogliastra boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, nature paradises to be reached by boat or long treks including Cala Goloritzè, Cala Mariolu, Cala Biriola and Cala Luna. Leaving Ogliastra, slightly more than an hour’s drive towards the south along the Orientale Sarda will bring you to Costa Rei and further south to Villasimius, the pearl of southern Sardinia with some of the most spectacular stretches of coast on the island with the Marine Protected Area of Capo Carbonara.

July 2018 | motoring 03

SARDINIA VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT:

Sella & Mosca

IN ITALY AND ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE, WINE CONNOISSEURS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS RATE ALES & ACSOM AMONG ITALY'S MOST OUTSTANDING WINE ESTATES. SELLA & MOSCA'S I PIANI ESTATE IN SARDINIA CONSTITUTES THE SECOND LARGEST CONTIGUOUS VINEYARD IN ITALY AND COUNTS ITSELF AMONG THE COUNTRY'S MOST IMPRESSIVE WINERIES. SITUATED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SARDINIA, JUST INLAND FROM THE PRETTY, HISTORIC PORT OF ALGHERO, THIS 1,600-ACRE PROPERTY WITH MORE THAN 1,200 ACRES OF VINES IS ONE OF THE LARGEST WINE ESTATES IN EUROPE.

ABOUT SELLA & MOSCA 1899

Sella & Mosca was founded in 1899 by Messrs. Sella and Mosca, two Piedmontese businessmen respected to this day for their prominent roles in the Risorgimento (Italy's 19thcentury unification movement).

As Sardinia's foremost wine producer, Sella & Mosca is renowned for premium wines made exclusively from estategrown grapes. In addition to native varieties such as Vermentino, Torbato and Cannonau, the winery has successfully pioneered the introduction of international grape varieties, notably Cabernet Sauvignon. Its brands include Torbato, Terre Bianche and Cannonau and, among premium wines, the red wines Marchese di Villamarina DOC and Tanca FarrĂ DOC, and the white wines Monteoro and Vermentino di Gallura DOCG.

ABOUT THE WINERY BASED IN SARDINIA Surrounded by landscaped gardens and a profusion of flowering oleanders, the estate winery features multiple tasting rooms, an expertly designed

enoteca and a fascinating exhibit showcasing replicas of archaeological finds unearthed on the estate and now housed in museums. Each year, especially during the summer months, the estate attracts visitors from all over Europe, who come to see this spectacular property for themselves.

controlled conditions. COLOUR: Pale straw with tints of lemongreen. NOSE:Very intense with notes of citrus. Delightful, floral.

PALATE: Crisp and dry with youthful vitality and freshness.

In Alghero, more than a century ago the engineer Mr. Sella and the lawyer Mr. Mosca fell in love with Aardiania's wild nature and together founded Sella & Mosca

ESTATE GROWN International and native grape varieties used to make Sella & Mosca wines are exclusviely estate-grown.

Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva. The grapes are harvested manually and mechanically in late autumn and undergo fermentation in stainless steel vats for fifteen days and then

aged two years in large Slavonian oak barrels with an additional several months in bottle.

COLOUR: Initially dark, ruby red, during maturation it loses intensity and takes on a warmer tone. NOSE: Mesmerizing scent, redolent of violets. PALATE: Warm, dry, and harmonious with plumy fruit flavors and an aristocratic oak overtone.

La Cala Vermentino. A favorite of the jet set at Sardinia's chic resorts, La Cala is the ultimate definition of the Vermentino grape. It is

romantically named for a small, secluded cove fringed by violetcolored thistles on the edge of the Sella & Mosca estate. Few wines rival La Cala for its exceptional affinity with seafood, thanks to the very subtle presence of a natural marine salinity in the wine, credited to the Mediterranean location of Sella & Mosca's Vermentino vineyards. After harvest, selected grape bunches are exposed to the warm autumnal sunlight and undergo a brief, natural drying process. Following a gentle pressing, the juices are vinified under temperature-

Marchese di Villamarina. At tastings and contests in Europe and beyond, this super-premium Cabernet Sauvignon from Sardinia has taken critics by storm. In 1994 it made a spectacular debut, when it won the hotly contested category of Italian Reds for the Future at the 10th Annual Wine Challenge hosted by Wine, a top U.K. wine publication; rivals included Tuscany's Sassicaia. Successive vintages have gone on to earn an extraordinary collection of no less than 13 Tre Bicchiere designations from Gambero Rosso, Italy's most influential wine magazine. The grapes are harvested manually and mechanically in late Autumn and fermented for two weeks in stainless steel vats. Aging: The wine is matured 18 months in small French oak casks, followed by a further 12 months in large oak barrels. COLOUR: Rich, majestic red. NOSE: Intense and mellow with remarkable red fruit fragrances. PALATE: Classic flavors of Cabernet with accents of vanilla, black currant, soft wood tannins with a lingering finish.

Plan a visit.Visit Sella & Mosca: LocalitĂ I Piani, Alghero. Call +39 079 997719. Locally Sella & Mosca 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/sistinawi neco TEL: 2131 4161

04 motoring | July 2018

MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL REVEALED AS NAME OF WORLD’S FIRST HYPER-GT cLaren Automotive has informed the 106 clients fortunate enough to have reserved an example of the car they previously knew only as BP23 that it will be named the McLaren Speedtail.

The world’s first Hyper-GT and McLaren’s next entrant to its Ultimate Series, the Speedtail will achieve the highest top speed of any McLaren yet, with the capability to exceed the 243mph peak speed of the legendary McLaren F1 road car.

Its design, teased in a series of sketches, will be flowing and highly streamlined, incorporating exquisite new materials to facilitate limitless possibilities for tailoring through McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

The news follows the announcement by McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt, during the Geneva Motor Show press conference that a public reveal of the McLaren Speedtail can be expected this year. The 106 customers who have reserved one will be invited to

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COMFORT REDEFINED NEW RANGE-TOPPING LAURIN & KLEMENT MODELS • NEW RANGETOPPING MODEL FEATURES UNIQUE STYLING AND HUGE SPECIFICATION LIST • AREA VIEW, PROGRESSIVE STEERING, AMBIENT LIGHTING ALL FITTED AS STANDARD • SEVEN SEAT LAYOUT DELIVERS COMFORT AND LUXURY FOR ALL PASSENGERS

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ot content with building one of the most luxurious, comfortable and generously equipped SUVs on the market, ŠKODA is raising the bar even higher with the launch of a new range-topping Kodiaq Laurin & Klement model.

Available to order at ŠKODA retailers now, the L&K model features even more creature comforts, safety systems and driver technology than the previous top model - the Kodiaq Edition - further enhancing its reputation for value and practicality. The new Kodiaq L&K is available with four engine options; one petrol and three diesels, with power outputs ranging from 150PS to 190PS. All feature all-wheel drive and are available with DSG transmissions or in the

case of the 2.0 TDI 150PS 4x4 variant, a six-speed manual option.

Named in honour of the company’s founders, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, the new Kodiaq L&K is the most luxurious SUV ever offered by ŠKODA. Like other L&K models in the brand’s line-up, the Kodiaq L&K comes with a remarkably generous specification list that few, if any rivals, can come close to matching. In terms of design, the Kodiaq L&K is distinguished from other models in the range by a chrome grille, 19-inch Sirius alloy wheels finished in anthracite and unique front and rear bumpers. Body-coloured under-door panels with distinctive L&K signature logos on the front wings complete the exterior design package.

The luxurious theme continues inside where the cabin is bathed in natural light thanks to the standard panoramic sunroof. The seats are trimmed in leather and alongside the armrest, feature an L&K logo. Piano black decorative trims further enhance the premium feel, as does the standard ambient lighting system and aluminium trimmed pedals.

As befits a range-topping model, the Kodiaq L&K showcases ŠKODA’s numerous technologies, driver assistants and safety features. These include Columbus infotainment system, Area view, progressive steering, curtain airbags, CANTON sound system and heated windscreen. Despite the remarkable equipment list, the Kodiaq L&K still represents incredible value for money.

First deliveries for the new Kodiaq L&K are expected later in the year.

see it first.

The next addition to the McLaren Ultimate Series will be both the fastest-ever (in a straight line) and the most luxurious McLaren. Featuring a three-seat cockpit design with a central driving position – the same layout as the F1 – and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the McLaren Speedtail will deliver the unparalleled blend of extreme performance and sporting luxury that befits its status as the ultimate road-going McLaren.

The entire production of the McLaren Speedtail was allocated before the car was officially announced in November 2016. Production is due to begin at the end of next year, with every McLaren Speedtail personalised to each owner’s taste by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the division of McLaren Automotive responsible for bespoke customer commissions.

A short film revealing the name can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/XF4LrazQnTw

July 2018 | motoring 05

BMW X2 XDRIVE20D AN IMPOSING COUPE SUV WITH BAGS OF CHARACTER ONE CANNOT HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE BMW X2 LOOKS SPORTIER THAN SIMILARLY SIZED SUV’S. THE CAR SPORTS A COUPE-LIKE ROOFLINE REMINISCENT OF BMW'S PAST MOTORSPORT HERITAGE AND RALLY ATTITUDE. REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN PEEL.

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he X2 is BMW’s latest small SUV and has the ride-height to prove it. With MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear, and the engine and gearbox sitting at the front mounted transversely, power is transmitted to the front wheels. Unless, that is, you specify an xDrive model, which we tested, then a propshaft sends drive to an electro-hydraulically

06 motoring | July 2018

controlled clutch pack at the rear axle that dictates when the rear wheels receive torque.

BMW hasn’t just transferred over the X1’s components but also made small changes to the car’s chassis to make the X2 feel sharper and sportier, more like one its coupes.

THERE IS A HUGE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE WHEN SWITCHING FROM COMFORT TO SPORT MODE, MOSTLY THANKS TO THE ADAPTIVE DAMPERS. WITH A SOFTNESS REMOVED FROM THE CHASSIS THE STEERING TRANSMITS MORE INFORMATION TO YOUR HANDS AND YOU CAN SENSE EXACTLY HOW MUCH LOCK YOU NEED BEFORE ASKING TOO MUCH OF THE FRONT TYRES.

The model we tested, the X2 20d, has the same basic engine as the 18d models, but it’s been retuned to deliver both more power and torque, 187bhp and 295lb ft respectively. It’s only available as an xDrive model and with the aid of four-wheel drive it can match the petrol’s 0-62mph time.

There’s no choice of gearboxes in the X2, you get an eight-speed automatic as standard.

There is a huge noticeable difference when switching from Comfort to Sport mode, mostly thanks to the adaptive dampers. With a softness removed from the chassis the steering transmits more information to your hands and you can sense exactly how much lock you need before asking too much of the front tyres.

As a result, you don’t overwork the front axle and understeer isn’t an issue – you can confidently enter a corner close to the cars limits and carry decent speed to the apex.

Your connection with the rear tyres is less transparent, but they find ample grip in most conditions so you can concentrate on getting the best from the front-end. What doesn’t change much when you select Sport is the engine.The revs rise marginally when you change modes, as there’s a little change in the throttle map, but there’s no difference in engine note or volume.

The styling involves plenty of parallel lines to make the car look broader, and for once the famous kidney grille is wider at the bottom than the top. All models have large side air intakes, twin exhausts and BMW roundels in the rear pillar – something previously reserved for top sports models.

The cabin quality is superb and of supreme high quality with plenty of legroom and headroom front and rear, despite the swooping roofline. Upper trim levels also get slightly different mood lighting, and it has to be mentioned that the infotainment system is probably the best in its class.

This is a good-looking, luxurious and efficient addition to the small, premium, sporty SUV category, and with its sharp handling it is surprisingly much more fun than other comparable sport utility vehicles.

A WORLD PREMIERE IN SHANGHAI PORSCHE PRESENTS THE NEW MACAN

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orsche has unveiled the new Macan in Shanghai.The compact SUV has been a great success since its launch in 2014, and has now been significantly enhanced in terms of its design, comfort, connectivity and driving dynamics, allowing the Macan to remain the sporty flagship in its segment.The new Macan stays true to the Porsche design DNA with a threedimensional LED tail light strip.

LED technology also features in the headlights as standard.The most striking innovations inside the vehicle include the 11-inch touchscreen of the new Porsche Communication Management (PCM), re-designed and repositioned air vents and the GT sports steering wheel familiar from the 911.The PCM enables access to new digital functions, such as intelligent voice control and the online navigation system provided as standard.The vehicle’s range of comfort equipment has also been expanded to include a traffic jam assist, an ioniser and a heatable windscreen.

LED headlights and new tail light strip as standard Thanks to a number of conscious changes to the

exterior, the new Macan now has an even sportier and more modern look. Numerous details reflect the DNA of the iconic 911 sports car and the 918 Spyder. In particular, the topic of lighting plays a key role: The new Macan is equipped with headlights featuring LED technology as standard. This high-quality lighting system featuring modules with a threedimensional design can be further optimised if desired: The Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS) can be used to adaptively control the light distribution. The front end of the Macan has been meticulously re-worked so that

it now appears even wider, while the comprehensive overhaul at the rear builds on the sleek design of the predecessor model. The threepart, three-dimensional LED light strip represents another typical Porsche design element at the rear. The four-point design of the brake lights also reflects the brand’s identity.

Optimised chassis with new tyres and wheels Thanks to its optimised chassis, the new Macan is able to consolidate its exceptional status as a sports car in the compact SUV segment. Finetuning of the chassis delivers enhanced neutrality while

maintaining stability and improving comfort. Although unusual for the SUV segment, the Macan still features mixed tyres with different widths on the front and rear axles. As with Porsche sports cars, this arrangement enables the driver to take full advantage of the intelligent, all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) when it comes to driving dynamics. Newly developed tyres with improved performance characteristics enable even better lateral dynamics for enhanced driving pleasure, while the new 20- and 21-inch wheels also offer greater scope to customise the design.

A model of success: more than 350,000 Macan deliveries since 2014 The Macan is a genuine success story. The combination of typical Porsche performance on any terrain coupled with a high degree of everyday practicality impressed customers right from the start: Since 2014, Porsche has delivered more than 350,000 units. With over 100,000 deliveries to date, the model is especially popular in the Chinese market where Porsche unveiled the redesigned compact SUV. The model presented in Shanghai will be offered exclusively in the Chinese market. Other models and markets will follow during the course of the year.

July 2018 | motoring 07

smart EQ - BE FIRST. DRIVE ELECTRIC. ELECTRIC IS THE FUTURE – THOUGH NOT FOR SMART EQ (ELECTRIC INTELLIGENCE).

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t’s impossible to talk about the smart EQ fortwo and smart EQ forfour without talking about Mercedes-Benz’s EQ too. After all, both model ranges express Daimler’s firm belief that the time of electric vehicles has arrived.

The smart EQ makes opting into electric mobility more attractive than ever. This is because it combines the agility of the smart with local emission-free driving – the ideal match for urban mobility. A 60kW (81 hp) electric motor runs at the rear of the smart EQ and transmits its power via a constant ratio to the wheels.

Powerful torque of 160Nm is immediately available from

a standstill. The smart EQ has a range of approximately 160km – ideal for local emissionfree mobility in urban areas. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 130 km/h to maximise the range. smart is the only car manufacturer worldwide to offer its entire model range with both combustion engines and all-electric drive. From 2020, however, smart’s model range will be available in electric only.

A new smartphone app for your Smart is also now available - dubbed the Smart EQ Control app, it will allow owners to monitor states of charge and pre-condition cabin temperatures.

Electric mobility is fun, radical, simple and ideal

08 motoring | July 2018

for our islands.

All of smart's EQ models qualify for our government's electric grant, and the green bonus reduces the purchase price by €6,000. The electric grant lowers the smart EQ fortwo starting cost to €20,700 and the smart EQ forfour to €21,700. Prices include a wall charger installed at the buyer’s premises.

Has anyone in your household tried driving an electric vehicle?

Be first by booking your test drive online @ www.autosales.com.mt/brand/smart, visiting the smart showroom at Kind’s – Auto Sales Ltd, Lija or contacting them on sales@autosales.com.mt