Motoring October 2016

IN THIS ISSUE: TIGUAN RECEIVES THE GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017 | TOWING SENSIBLY | COUNTDOWN TO GOLF UPDATE IN NOVEMBER NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ALL-TERRAIN: VERSATILITY AND AGILITY IN A STRIKING OUTFIT

The Malta Independent on Sunday. October 2016

VERSATILE AGILITY

E-CLASS ALL-TERRAIN also inside Sicily West Coast

Sicilian vineyard spotlight FIRRIATO

Trapani

Agrigento Valley of the Temples

EXPLORING SICILY – WEST COAST ITINERARY

Selinunte temples

icily's west coast landscape and culture has been influenced by invaders for millennia – Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Normans and Arabs have all left their mark.

Western Sicily is perfect for those who savour slow travel with an amazingly diverse range of experiences to be had.

Attractions include the ancient ruins of Segesta and Selinunte, the hilltop village of Erice with stunning sea and mountain scenery. Western Sicily has a unique local cuisine, diverse architecture and landscape perfect for exploring by car. Here are some highlights starting from Palermo in the North and driving south along the coast.

coves and caves, clear waters, rocky and sandy beaches and lots of plants worth an Instagram snap. It’s hard work getting there (especially on those 40°C Summer days), but it’s totally worth it! Once again, avoid July and August to ensure a crowd-free experience.

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PALERMO Palermo is the starting point of any type of trip on the West Cost of Siciliy, facing the Gulf of Palermo and surrounded by orange and lemon groves of the Conca D’Oro Plain.The city is truly a site to see, especially the polychromatic marble of its buildings, its Arab-style domes, its vibrant and colorful Vucciria market and the Kalsa Quarter.

Palermo is home to Teatro Massimo, the third largest opera house in Europe and the biggest in Italy. Palermo’s Duomo is an impressive and unique mix of architectural styles reflecting history of dominations, additions and alterations through the centuries.

ERICE Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro

RISERVA NATURALE DELLO ZINGARO If you love hiking and want to see some of the best beaches in Sicily, that’s the place to go. Zingaro Nature Reserve offers everything a nature lover can ask for: a 7km coastal walk, stunning views, hidden

A beautiful Medieval town perched on a mountain, offers an incredible panorama overlooking the Mediterranean sea.

Walking through its narrow alleys is like travelling back in time with breathtaking views from its castle.

TRAPANI Built around its port, the historic center of Trapani abounds in testimonials to its

Erice

history and art: ancient buildings, monuments and churches such as the Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its elegant Baroque façade, and the Sanctuary of the Annunziata.

SELINUNTE Selinunte is one of the most representative sites of Classical Civilization, located within the reserve of the Belice River Nature Reserve. Here you will see the ruins of the colossal Greek temples, the acropolis and the remains of houses and of a perimeter wall.

AGRIGENTO Home to 'the Valley of the Temples' (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) where the fascination of ancient history blends with the beauty of nature. Sea on one side, the historic city-hill on the other, and majestic Doric style temples rising in the center of it all create a picture-perfect setting.The Temple of Concordia is the most wellpreserved of the temples, having been transformed into a church.The Temple of Juno still boasts 25 of its original 34 columns to support its structure.Then, the Temple of the Dioscuri is considered the most symbolic temple, while the Temple of Hercules is the oldest of them all.Together with the Temple of Zeus, these five giants dominate the Valley.

Palermo Duomo

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Left: The grapedrying garden in Borgo Guarini estate Above: Nero d’Avola grape harvest

SICILIAN

VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT >

FIRRIATO

IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, SALVATORE DI GAETANO, A BUSINESSMAN WITH A PASSION FOR HIS HOMELAND, SAW THE RIGHT ELEMENTS IN THE PICTURE-POSTCARD LANDSCAPE OF TRAPANI TO BEAR THE FRUIT OF HIS FREELY DECLARED PASSION: HIGH-QUALITY WINE. FIRRIATO IS THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS DREAM, A COMPANY THAT IN THREE DECADES HAS BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST PRODUCTION COMPANIES IN SICILY. RIGHT FROM THE START SALVATORE DI GAETANO GAMBLED ON THE OENOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF TRADITIONAL VINES. NERO D’AVOLA, PERRICONE AND NERELLO MASCALESE, AND ALSO ZIBIBBO, GRILLO AND CATARRATTO, WITH FIRRIATO HAVE ALL BECOME WINES THAT ENTHUSIASTIC WINE LOVERS CHERISH. TODAY FIRRIATO ARE MAKING SOME OF THE MOST DYNAMIC WINES IN SICILY TODAY.

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n the west coast of Sicily in the province of Trapani lies the Firriato winery. Founded in 1985, Firriato is still relatively young in the world of wine. With that said, today they are making some of the dynamic wines in Sicily. Firriato’s strength lies in the consistent choices it has made. Especially those that focus on nature, biodiversity, protecting the landscape and innovation. A profile that is most emblematic in the management of its vineyards, considering that all of them are certified organic. Firriato manage six agricultural estates which are unique and different from each other.This is something that Salvatore Di Gaetano and his family are proud of and know that the company’s entire team share that pride, both in the vineyards and in the winery.Today the strong affection for Sicily has been given new strength thanks to the arrival of Irene, Salvatore and Vinzia’s daughter, and her husband, Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato, who are taking the family dream forward with

Salvatore and Vinzia Di Gaetano 04 motoring October 2016 |

passion.

Firriato’s winemaker, Giuseppe Pellegrino, works closely with winemaking experts from Australia and New Zealand, combining the knowledge from these two countries with the wonderful grapes grown in this part of Sicily.

Firriato has created a number of collections including volcanic, classic and trendy which are produced from the six estates in their collection.These include The Calamoni estate on the island of Favignana, Cavanera Etnea on Mount Etna in the area known as Contrada Verzella, Baglio Sorìa and Dagala Borromeo near Trapani, Borgo Guarini – the largest of Firriato’s agricultural estates and Pianoro Cuddìa.

Firriato also produces its own organic extra virgin olive oil, so if you are not a wine lover you can visit the winery and still come away with something truly sublime.

Besides offering wine tasting experiences, and wine and cooking classes, Firriato winery has opened its doors in a rather

FIRRIATO’S WINEMAKER, GIUSEPPE PELLEGRINO, WORKS CLOSELY WITH WINEMAKING EXPERTS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, COMBINING THE KNOWLEDGE FROM THESE TWO COUNTRIES WITH THE WONDERFUL GRAPES GROWN IN THIS PART OF SICILY. unique way - providing the chance to stay at one of its locations across Sicily.There are three of these.The first is the Baglio Soria Resort – ideal for

French and American barrels

The Di Gaetano family

relaxation in the countryside just outside Trapani; the second option is Cavanera Resort, overlooked by Mount Etna with uncontaminated nature and the volcano’s charm; or finally you can try the Calamoni Apartments on Favignana Island surrounded by wineyards. Each location gives the opportunity to experience the area where some of their most prized vines and grapes are grown.This is not merely a winery

that makes wine – it offers an experience and a history, you will want to savour.

The Firriato range of wines can be enjoyed locally or experienced first hand at Baglio Sorìa,Tel. +39 3666260186, Address: Contrada Sorìa, 91100 Trapani (TP), GPS: 37.978383, 12.602691. Cavanera Etnea,Tel. 0942-986182, Address: Contrada Verzella, 95012, Castiglione di Sicilia (CT), GPS: 37.882202, 15.062259.

Locally Firriato Wines are imported by Attard and Co and available from Sistina Wine & Co.,The Strand Gzira. Opening hours: 10am till late.

WEB: ww.sistinawineco.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ sistinawineco TEL: 2131 4161.

Gozo Distributor: Abraham’s Supplies Co. Ltd. TEL: 2156 3231 WEB: www.abrahams.com.mt

TIGUAN RECEIVES THE

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017

he German Design Council has announced the winners of the German Design Award 2017. A Volkswagen brand model is among this year's winners: the Volkswagen Tiguan has been selected as a winner in the "Transportation" category and honoured with this prestigious award.

The German Design Award is the fifth award won this year by the new Tiguan for outstanding automotive design. The Volkswagen design team led by Klaus Bischoff has given the second generation of this popular compact SUV an elegant appearance. The new Tiguan is longer, wider and lower in height compared to its predecessor. These new dimensions have been achieved in no small part through the use of the MQB (Modular Transverse Matrix). The result is a

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striking SUV profile with distinctive proportions and a very dynamic design. At the front, the radiatorgrille and LED projection headlights unit (fitted as standard in the Highline equipment option) emphasise the powerfully upright overall impression.

Established in 2012, the German Design Award is one of the most prestigious design competitions in the world and is highly regarded well beyond expert circles. This coveted prize is awarded by the German Design Council. Founded in 1953 by the German Bundestag as a foundation, this international committee is one of the world’s leading centres of excellence for communication and brand management within the design field.

The award ceremony of the German Design Award will take place in Frankfurt on 10 February 2017.

TOWING SENSIBLY WHEN TOWING A BOAT, CARAVAN OR TRAILER, THESE TIPS WILL ENSURE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE CONCERNED WRITES PAUL VELLA, RMF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.

GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES

1The tow hook attachment or tow bar must be ‘type approved’ by the manufacturer, properly attached to the vehicle and capable of taking the weight and pull of the trailer or caravan.

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An application at MT to supply a third number plate will automatically include a permit of the towing attachment.

BEFORE SETTING OUT

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Under-inflated or badly maintained tyres on towed vehicles are the most common reasons for breakdowns. Make sure you have a spare tyre for the trailer.

Ensure that the nuts on the spare wheel are not rusty so that they can be undone easily.

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Check that trailer bearings are in a serviceable condition.

Know the height of whatever you are trailing, including aerials, as height restrictions may prevent you from going through tunnels or under road signs.

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It is dangerous to have anything extending from behind the trailing lights.

If the trailer is wider than the pulling vehicle, extra care must be taken while driving. You must have extended mirrors that enable a clear view of the rear of the trailer and caravan.

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When trailing boats, it is more relevant to carry out an inspection to check the condition of the structure of the trailer because it may have rust and weak spots due to immersion in salt water over the years.

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3 4 5 6

The tow bar should not impair the visibility of the vehicle’s registration number plate.

Use an additional chain between the vehicle and trailer to act as a secondary safety feature.

The pulling vehicle should be heavier than whatever is being towed for reasons of stability, especially when braking.

Check correct operation of caravan or trailer brakes if fitted. These might save you from an accidental jack knife on sudden, emergency braking.

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The trailer or caravan must be equipped with trailing lights, turn indication and stop lights and sidelights. Side reflectors will aid when trailing in the dark.

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Boats or bikes on trailers should be strapped down properly.

CARAVANS To make your journey safe and efficient, take all necessary precautions as listed above. The caravan itself must be in good order. Check the packing equipment and that the power supply to the caravan is fully functioning.

Enjoy motoring by RMF

COUNTDOWN TO GOLF UPDATE IN NOVEMBER: THE FOURTH GOLF. THE STYLE OF THE SERIES • CLEAR DESIGN OF THE GOLF MKIV IS CONSIDERED GROUNDBREAKING • ESC CELEBRATED ITS BREAKTHROUGH IN THE FOURTH GENERATION OF THE GOLF

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n 1997, the Golf MkIV was created under the direction of the Volkswagen Group Head of Design Hartmut Warkuß (1993 to 2003). Today, the fourth generation is considered a style icon – particularly because of its graphic clarity and fundamental C-pillar series design forming a bridge to the 1974 Golf MkI. However, the Golf MkIV was not only pioneering in terms of its looks, it was groundbreaking in its engineering as well. Volkswagen achieved a totally new standard of quality in this market segment with this car and thus became the first manufacturer to overcome vehicle class boundaries. With the debut of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in the Golf (1998), the car continued to democratise safety. By 2003, 4.99 million units of the Golf MkIV, including all of its derivatives, had been produced.

Retrospective, 1997: Robbie Williams was transformed from a teen idol into a worldwide star with the song and slogan “Let me entertain you”; Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio wrote film history with the US premiere of “Titanic”; and Volkswagen presented the fourth generation of the Golf – in terms of design, the purest and clearest yet. Hartmut Warkuß says, “the Golf is a monument. A car that seamlessly followed in the footsteps of the globally successful Beetle. It made good sense to reinforce the company strategy in an evolutionary rather than revolutionary way. It is important to demonstrate a high degree of continuity.”

And that's exactly what Warkuß did with the fourth Golf. However, nothing is copied from the Golf MkIII. On the contrary, not a single body panel of the entirely redesigned new Golf generation was taken over from its predecessor. The front window is flatter, the rear window

is steeper, the roof extends even further back. Even Giorgio Giugiaro, creator of the first Golf design back in 1974, expressed his admiration for the new car: “The genetic material of the Golf is still evident in its fourth generation.”

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NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ALL-TERRAIN

VERSATILITY AND AGILITY IN A STRIKING OUTFIT

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rom unpaved tracks to steep, serpentine snow-bound roads, the new E-Class AllTerrain can tackle routes where conventional estates have to give up, thanks to greater ground clearance and 4MATIC allwheel drive. Rugged styling and flared wheel arches also give it a tough look. The E-Class All-Terrain makes its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show 2016.

The first cars will arrive in the UK from spring 2017, while pricing and specification will be announced in early 2017.

“No E-Class has ever been as versatile as the All-Terrain. The new model combines a striking look in SUV style with the intelligent space concept of the estate. This is coupled with lots of innovative safety features and the multi-award-winning EClass interior,” said Ola Källenius, Member of the Daimler management board responsible for Sales and Marketing of Mercedes Benz Cars. “With 4MATIC allwheel drive as a standard feature and increased ground clearance thanks to the AIR BODY CONTROL multi-chamber air suspension, the All-Terrain is a flexible allrounder – for unpaved roads, family and leisure time.”

Thanks to off-road styling elements the All-Terrain has a powerful and robust appearance which also distinguishes it

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from the classic estate. Dynamism and modern luxury unite to make the AllTerrain an ambassador for the MercedesBenz design philosophy of the sensuous clarity that defines modern luxury.

An eye-catching feature of the front is the SUV-style two-fin grille with the star integrated in the centre. The distinctive front bumper and lower panelling, electroplated in silver-chrome, also contribute to the robust appearance. The top part of the three-part front bumper is painted in the body colour and the lower part comes in grained black plastic.

At the side, the black wheel arch covers are a distinctive feature that emphasise the car’s all-terrain character. This also applies to the black side skirt that features a

chrome trip strip. Three exclusive alloy wheel sets in 19- and 20-inch formats with higher sidewalls give the vehicle a confident look, greater ground clearance and enhanced comfort on rough roads.

The All-Terrain also features a modelspecific three-part bumper at the rear with the top part painted in body colour and the lower part in grained black plastic.

Further features typical of an SUV include robust load sill protection and an underbody guard electroplated in silverchrome.

The interior includes aluminium-carbon look trim that is exclusive to the AllTerrain, stainless steel sports pedals and floor mats with All-Terrain lettering. The equipment is based on the

AVANTGARDE interior line, while EXCLUSIVE and designo appointments are optionally available [UK details are to be confirmed]. The new model boasts all the load compartment flexibility of the EClass estate, such as the rear seat cargo position and a standard 40:20:40 splitfolding rear seat back. All E-Class innovations relating to safety, comfort and convenience are available.

The All-Terrain will be launched as an E 220 d 4MATIC (143 kW/194 hp) with the newly developed four-cylinder diesel engine. A short time later a variant with a six-cylinder diesel engine will follow. Both models come with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission as standard.