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GRAB TG’s VIP Pass to Bahrain’s

9 772224 624003
biggest supercar collection
The new Macan. Priced from R849 000
including a 3 year/100,000 km Driveplan.
On average we make 20,000 decisions per day, but just a few are really thrilling.
What's decisive for us: one thrilling experience after another. With a revised engine generation that delivers all the necessary
performance. We have an overview of everything, thanks to the large 11˝ display. And the design? Refined and now boasting
a new rear taillight strip. www.porsche.com/macan

Porsche Centre Johannesburg Porsche Centre Cape Town Porsche Studio Cape Town Waterfront
Telephone 011 540 5000 Telephone 021 555 6800 Telephone 021 000 0911 
www.porschejohannesburg.com www.porschecapetown.com www.porschecapetown.com

Porsche Centre Pretoria Porsche Centre Umhlanga

Telephone 012 816 7600 Telephone 031 514 3000
www.porschepretoria.com www.porscheumhlanga.com

The new Macan: Combined fuel consumption: 8.1 l/100 km; Power: 185 kW (252 hp); Torque: 370 Nm; 0-100 km/h: 6.5 seconds (Sport Chrono)
The new Continental GT Convertible.
Experience unrivalled craftsmanship, from an exhilarating new perspective.
Discover more at BentleyMotors.com/Continental or contact Bentley Johannesburg
on 010 020 4000 or Bentley Cape Town on 021 000 2100.
The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2019 Bentley Motors Limited.
BENTLEY JOHANNESBURG • BENTLEY CAPE TOWN
Power: 467 kW (635 hp); Torque: 900 Nm; 0-100 km/h: 3.8 seconds;
Combined fuel consumption: 14 l/100 km; CO2 Emissions: 317 g/km.
Priced from R3 750 000 with a 3 year/100,000 km Driveplan
Model shown: Continental GT Convertible.
 The Breitling Cinema Squad
Charlize Theron
Brad Pitt
Adam Driver

AIR
AVITIMER

LAND

SEA

#SQUADONAMISSION
 Welcome
Issue 87 FEBRUARY 2019

046
“The best way to predict
the future is to invent it”. Alan
Kay.
At TopGear we’ve tried our
level best for the year ahead
but in retrospect some of
2019’s Most Wanted cars
pursue an interest to reinvent.
Take the Toyota Supra, a
stalwart among the giant killing underdogs stuck to our
bedroom walls with yellowing blobs of Prestik. Even today I
believe our Supra-loving nation could claim to be one of
the largest outposts for the virtually unbreakable, infinitely-
tuneable 2JZ engine - although now retrofitted under the
hood of myriad brands. Lurk around Tarlton’s or Killarney’s
drag strips and you’ll find them in their interminable ranks of
horsepower.
The year 2019 sees the Supra’s defiant return and just to
be clear, despite two decades having passed between
them, the new one isn’t powered by solar panels. The only
electric motors being the ones connected to the windows
and wipers. The formula is a tantalisingly familiar set of
sportscar tropes: Straight six 3.0-litre turbo, rear-wheel drive,
limited slip differential.
Reinvention enters a collision course with the Land Rover
Defender. An unenviable task but one that will summon
willpower from Suzuki’s Jimny and Mercedes’s G 63 for retro
inspiration. Big and blocky prototypes have sated our
hopes of something akin to the original’s provenance.
2019’s reinvention wheel continues to turn with the new
Porsche 911 riffing on signature stylistic cues,
notwithstanding the same mechanical literature which has
defined the brand for the last 50 years. Our full 911 tech
guide is right in the front.
Reassuring evidence that 2019 is unlikely to be the scary
year of major disruption, shepherding us around in driver-
less pods and gleaning all our personal information along
the way. On planet car, for this year, some of our favourite
nomenclatures will be reborn and amalgamated with
cleaner tech and safer systems.
Also in this issue Aston Martin uncorks a V12 with a rev
limiter on the same decibel metre as a Formula One Car.
Over at Mercedes-AMG, a reprised Formula One engine
with championship-winning credentials for the AMG One
hypercar.
These are our early nominations for 2019’s Most Wanted.
All that’s left for us to do is drive them on our favourite
stretches of road.

Andrew Leopold EDITOR

6 FEBRUARY 2019
 JHB /E/REV
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 Contents

066
046 Most wanted 066 Aston Martin Valkyrie
Kicking off our list of forthcoming cars TG is most excited Ear protection at the ready. Aston’s high-revving V12 is

about is the new Toyota Supra. Supra dupra! up and running while Adrian Newey fusses over the last

details

054 AMG One

This is the year when a Formula One engine is transferred
Garage
to the road. Tobias Moers tries to describe the noise to

TopGear. BAAAAARRRRRRR 093 What we’re running

at TopGear

058 Many Zagatos Data

... ...and they’re all owned by the same committed 098 All you need to know
about the best cars on sale
collector. Meet the R48mil range of custom Aston Martins today

8 FEBRUARY 2019
 Contents
“Now, you can undertake
a two-hour journey in a
G without bringing your
chiropractor along for the
ride”

036
025

“The only place I’d draw the

line is buying a Mustang
EcoBoost. Life’s too short
for four cylinders.”
026

the ten

013 019
013 Porsche 911
019 Lamborghini Huracan Evo
020 e-tron GT
023 McLaren 720S

Intake
030
031
033
034
035
Life in cars
Top 9
TG watches
TG gadgets
A brief history
042
Drives
036 BMW Z4
040 Mercedes X350d
041 Audi A1
042 RR SVR vs Jeep Trackhawk
044 Mercedes S63 Coupe vs
Bentley Continental GT
045 Renault Megane Trophy
 23109/E BLACK RIVER F.C.
M{zd{ 3

STYLE NEVER BLENDS IN

Captivate any audience in the Mazda3, styled in KODO – Soul of Motion design that
echoes the powerful stance of a predator just before it pounces. This visual athleticism is
mirrored in sophisticated SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY that unleashes sporting performance
while maintaining great fuel economy with the 2.0 litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine.
G-Vectoring Control (GVC) is paired with lighter vehicle weight and SKYACTIV chassis,
delivering an effortlessly smooth driving experience.

The impossible made possible.

 Making
it happen
What: Koenigsegg memento
Where: Manama, Bahrain
When you don’t get to do the
record run, a signed plaque’s
the next best thing
What: Porsche’s track app
Where: Valencia, Spain
Err, bit awkward that
Killarney beat Kyalami to the
punch
Who: Andrew Leopold
Where: Valencia, Spain
Done with Porsche’s Wet Mode,
let’s try Track Mode.
DHS Media Group, First Floor, Block 6,
Fourways Office Park, Corner Roos Street &
Fourways Boulevard, Fourways, Johannesburg,
South Africa
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andrew Leopold
Publisher & CEO Dirk Steenekamp dirk@dhsmedia.co.za
Digital & Client Manager Louise van der Nat louise@dhsmedia.co.za
Managing Editor Jason Fleetwood jason@dhsmedia.co.za
Tech Editor Peter Wolff peter@dhsmedia.co.za
Illustrations Editor Toon53 Prod. toon53@dhsmedia.co.za
Gaming Editor Andre Coetzer andre@dhsmedia.co.za
Fashion & Grooming Editor Greg Forbes greg@dhsmedia.co.za
What: Porsche wing mirror
Where: Somewhere, Bahrain CREATIVE TEAM
Rough translation: ‘Objects in
Creative Director Gareth Bouwmeester gareth@dhsmedia.co.za
the mirror may have access to
Senior Photographer Tim Hulme tim@dhsmedia.co.za
vastly cheaper fuel’
Senior Photo Editor Luba V Nel luba@dhsmedia.co.za
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Lance Branquinho, Avon Middleton,
Francisco Nwamba
ADVERTISING & SALES
Pieter Lourens pieter@dhsmedia.co.za
BBC STUDIOS, UK PUBLISHING
Publishing Director UK - Chris Kerwin
Director of Editorial Governance - Nicholas Brett
UK Publishing Coordinator – Eva Abramik
Who: Lance Branquinho
Where: Cape Town IMMEDIATE MEDIA
Lance’s preparations for CEO – Tom Bureau
Valentine’s day were off to a Director of International Licensing and Syndication – Tim Hudson
good start
International Partners Manager – Anna Genevier
TOPGEAR UK
Managing Director, TopGear UK – Adam Waddell
Publishing Director – Simon Carrington
Editor-in-Chief – Charlie Turner
Associate Editor – Tom Ford
BBC Top Gear magazine is published by DHS Media Group (pty) Ltd, under licence from BBC Studios, Television
Centre, Wood Lane, London W12 7TQ. The Top Gear logo and the BBC B ocks are the trade marks of the British
Broadcasting Corporat on. Used under licence. © Immediate Media Company Limited. All r ghts reserved.
Re-production in whole or part prohibited without permission. Printed in South Africa by Paarl Media Cape.
Who: Francisco Nwamba
Where: Barcelona, Spain CONTACT
This jersey did fit loosely TEL 010 006 0051
MAIL info@dhsmedia.co.za
before the festive season. FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM / TOPGEARMAGAZINESA
TWITTER @TOPGEARMAGSA
INSTAGRAM @TOPGEARMAGSA
THINGS WE’VE LEARNT THIS MONTH

FEBRUARY 2019 13
 make Panamera drivers jealous and space for an
electric motor... all in the eighth-generation 911
nnovation throughout Porsche’s
I
911 history doesn’t always receive
the credit owed but in the seven
generations leading up to this
Porsche 992 the narrative is peppered with all
sorts of brilliant, albeit sometimes nuanced,
triumphs.
Rewind to the first set of lightweight forged
wheels from Fuchs as early as 1965, or the fact
that the Targa became the first cabriolet to
navigate through the latest set of safety laws
for a convertible in the US. The ducktail was
the genesis of the now ubiquitous rear spoiler
(and arguably still the prettiest) while in 1974
Porsche took its first foray into turbo charging
– and never looked back. Generation after
generation moved the goalposts, each time the
new 911 becoming the most benchmarked
14 FEBRUARY 2019
sportscar of all. Features like ABS and
Tiptronic debuted in the Porsche 964,
all-wheel drive followed pre-nineties while the
996 switched to water cooling and the
997-generation brought variable turbine
geometry.
As I sit in the conference room overlooking
a dishevelled Hockenheim circuit, furiously
scribbling notes and sketching diagrams only
decipherable to me during the tech workshop
of 992, I’m overcome with one thought; this
new 992 will be counted among 911’s
watershed moments.
First there’s the unequivocal truth that
Porsche has embraced a digital, connected
future as a main tenet for the 992.
Customisable displays flanking the central rev
counter are merely the start because to their
right the wider touchscreen is loaded with
mindboggling software enriched with internet
services, learning-ability and Porsche’s new
Personal Assistant summoned by a growing
list of voice commands. A row of tactile
buttons below the screen restore balance
between new and old architecture while
overall the integration of features in the
cockpit feels superbly sized (including the
tiddly gearlever), coherent and inch-precise.
The clutch of autonomous features serve to
improve safety rather than desirous of
wrestling enjoyment away from the driver. Par
for the course equipment in posh SUVs or
sedans but less common in high performance
sports cars. There’s lane departure warning,
active cruise control, emergency brake stop as
well as a new driving mode – Wet Mode.
 Porsche hasn’t moved the
engine – that’d be a story in itself
– but it has changed how it’s
attached to the body, making it
stiffer. That’ll be hugely beneficial PORSCHE 911:
when the drop-top arrives later
this year.
A SPOTTER’S GUIDE

911 1963
Successor to the 356, the
original. Spawned 2.7 RS in ’72

G MODEL 1973
First big makeover gave birth
to Turbo, Cab and Speedster

964 1988
Introduced 4WD and latterly
the basis for SInger’s creations

993 1993
The pretty one, and last 911
with an air-cooled engine

996 1997
The one you’re most likely to
afford. GT2 bit of a beast

Tucked in the front wheelarch sits a sensor

which helps unscramble that part of your
brain which usually acknowledges the
presence of rain. If you respond to the warning
Look into my eyes... when you 997 2004
light on the dash and activate Wet Mode, while wake, you’ll have an urge to The return to oval headlights.
cancel that AMG GT order Breadth of choice remarkable
in the process revoking your man-card, the
992 becomes a little more amphibious to
surroundings by channelling more power to
the front, increasing downforce via the rear
spoiler position and quelling the spikiness
from the engine’s torque delivery. We got a
demo of this; if you don’t want a twitchy or
991 2011
When the 911 went all turbo
aquaplaning 911 then the feature isn’t quite as in 2015, bar the GT models

silly as we first thought during the car’s static

reveal in LA.
But Porsche does want you to drift the new
911. In the most Germanic of admissions ‘we
know drifting is not the fastest way, but it is

15
FEBRUARY 2019
 So far there are only two
pedals in the footwell.
Coming soon: A Third

Little fact that nearly slipped unnoticed

under the waves of technical data
bombarding me; the new 8-speed PDK
gearbox can handle 800Nm – an extra
50Nm compared to the outgoing 911 Turbo.

WHAT TO The gearbox and MMB platform are

conduits to a hybridised future in a similar
marriage to what has been done with the
EXPECT FROM Panamera Turbo SE-hybrid.
Porsche freely admits a hybrid 911 is on

992 TURBO the way, due circa 2022 when the current
version is facelifted. By that time the
Taycan will have been with us for three
years so we’ll be very comfortable with
the notion of electrified Porsches in all
varied states of tune.

16 FEBRUARY 2019
“First there’s the unequivocal truth
that Porsche has embraced a
digital, connected future as a
main tenet for the 992”
fun…’ Improved cooling and lubrication
around engine and gearbox when a car is
pitched as a smoking roadblock to the
forward-facing airflow will allow you to drift
for longer.
Like in the former 991.2 Carrera and
Carrera S, engines are 3.0-litre turbo charged
flat sixes but the power and speed…well
frankly the Carrera S sets a ridiculously high
starting point for GTS and Turbo models to
build from. The new engine is up in power by
22kW to 331kW yet meets tighter emissions
thanks to a new intake, Piezo injectors,
revised intercooling, reworked turbo housings
and more. Just to maintain the same power
would be an achievement when you realise
how hard governments are clamping down
with the new WLTP laws.
Even though this 992 is remorsefully
carrying a bit more weight than its
predecessor (the new particulate filter in the
exhaust alone weighs 18 kilograms), the 992
shrugs that off to record 0-100km/h in 3.7
seconds or 3.6 seconds in the 4S model – 0.4
second gains in one generation, partly due to
power but partly due to revised ratios and
added alertness, sans snap, from the PDK
gearbox. Comparable stats to a 991.2 GTS or
the 997 Turbo with a top speed over 300km/h.
But you can trade straightline performance for
foot-and-fist gear changing with a new 7-speed
manual gearbox which will be available to
order in South Africa.
‘It actually looks like a new Porsche 911’.
The shared sentiment from many of our
readers on social media. Within a 911’s
well-defined silhouette which fences wanton
creativity, it’s always a matter of finessing
what you have rather than taking liberties with
tradition. The rear lightbar hooks the eye first
– a visual trait that has migrated from
Cayenne, Macan and Panamera and will
become a prominent feature on Taycan. Also
new are the flush door handles, new alloy
wheels in staggered sizes -20in front and 21in
rears – and a recessed bonnet traceable back to
early 911s. A product of the widened front
track means no more narrow-bodied 911s so
all-wheel drive versions and rear-wheel drive
versions get the same, aluminium-clad
bodyshell.
So far so very flawless for the starting price
of R1 708 000 for the Carrera S and R1 797 000
for the Carrera 4S. McLaren, Ferrari, Aston
Martin - all of them notorious for buggy, laggy
electronics, muddled materials and baffling
ergonomics - could learn a great deal from
Porsche’s 992. We’re seeing Porsche parallel
with the group’s current direction and
interminable resources – although it needs to
be said that Porsche distances itself by doing a
great deal of bespoke inventing and not
necessarily much direct borrowing. For now,
in theory, this is the best sportscar on sale, due
in South Africa around June but with order
books open now. ANDREW LEOPOLD
FEBRUARY 2019 17
 100% Peru.
100% Hilux
SA’s toughest Hilux
lifts Dakar trophy

Unlike Toyota’s predictable victory at Le Mans,

the same wasn’t true of the team’s first Dakar
victory - having finished on the podium five times
before. While this year’s ten stage wins were
contested by the chasing pack, it was the
indomitable Nasser Al Attiyah in his bulletproof
Hallspeed-prepared Toyota Hilux who reaffirmed
his reputation ‘king of the dunes’ as this year’s
Dakar covered his favourite terrain while other
teams and drivers struggled uncharacteristically.
No this victory doesn’t suggest that we’ll get a
300kW V8 Hilux anytime soon, but knowing Toyota
we might get a limited edition model with a new
badge or extra chrome.

Watch This

The Mazda 3 is more Active types, your

than a pretty face bakkie has arrived

OK, it doesn’t have the stance of Mazda’s
exceptionally handsome Kai concept but
the new Mazda 3 is still a looker. Is it just
us, or is there a whiff of Alfa to it? Anyway,
let’s talk about Mazda’s new Spark
Controlled Compression Ignition
SkyActiv-X engine. Utilising spark plugs
for conventional petrol engine-style
combustion, it can then switch to
diesel-style compression ignition if needs
be. Meaning you should get the
performance of a petrol but the economy
of a diesel. Turns out it’s not just EVs that
can move the game on. RH
Following ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice
command is what we like to call “Over
here lighting’. Stretch for something on the
passenger seat or behind you and
sensors in the cabin will ensure that every
motion is precisely lit - sparing you the
awkward, arm-twisting fumble around.
But that’s not the only clever piece of tech
because the CLA can pair with your
wearable e-device like a Samsung Gear
and by having access to the watch’s
heart rate monitor will try keep you at
peak alertness. That’s one way to raise
your pulse. AL
The Jeep bakkie is back! And it’s called
the Gladiator. Yes, the Gladiator. Along
with the FCA group’s other awesome
nomenclature (Demon, Hellcat and
Trackhawk), we approve of this name, big
time. Based off the same body-on-frame
chassis as the latest Wrangler, the
Gladiator is nothing short of an absolute
beast. Being nearly a metre longer than
an equivalent crew-cab Wrangler – and
featuring a 1.5m bed – it’s a load-lugger’s
dream, capable of carrying up to 725kg,
and with a huge 4,370kg towing capacity.
Are you not entertained? RH

18 FEBRUARY 2019
 R8 Checkmate
Performante power, better aero and a new touchscreen. The baby Lambo grows up?
ot your heart set on the
G facelifted 2019 Audi R8, have
you? Hold fire. Its Italian cousin
has also visited the Angular
Bodywork Ltd. Factory, and the Huracan Evo
has emerged approximately twenty-three per
cent more angry-looking than before. Check
out those spindly front aero blades and colour
contrast diffuser. These tell you you’re looking
at the new, 2019 Lamborghini Huracan Evo.
Lamborghini’s shifted the exhausts up the
car’s backside, racecar style, to get the aero
working more efficiently and has conjured lots
more downforce in the process. The factory
claims the Huracan Evo “improves downforce
and aerodynamic efficiency more than five
times over the first generation Huracán”. Five
times more? From a ducktail spoiler? Blimey.
Cleaving the air more sharply has given
Lamborghini all the excuse it needed to
increase the performance of the Huracán Evo.
The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 now
matches the Huracán Performante’s totals of
470kW and 600Nm. That’s enough to punt it
from 0-100kph in under three seconds –
2.9sec is claimed – and on to 200kph in nine
seconds dead. Will it do 320kph, as prescribed
in the supercar bible? Yep, 325kph is claimed.
Bit angrier looking, bit more poke. Lambo
could’ve left it there, right? Ahh, but this is
modern, 21st Century, Nürburgring record-
chasing Lamborghini. They’re a bit more
serious these days than just painting the
diffuser orange.
So, there’s a fiendishly clever on-board
computer with a sexy Italian name
(Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata)
which lets the four-wheel steering, stability
control and torque-vectoring chat to each
other and sort out whatever ham-fisted inputs
the human inside is making.
Apparently, it’ll predict your future,
somehow. Lamborghini says “a ‘feed forward
logic’ is implemented via the dynamic
controller, which means the car doesn’t just
react, but predicts the best driving set-up for
the next moment”. Most likely that’ll be
‘shoot flames for Instagram’.
Meanwhile, gyroscopes monitor your
lateral, longitudinal and vertical
accelerations, as well as roll, pitch and yaw
rate, to suss out how big a moment you’re
about to have on Park Lane. There’s also
revised magnetorheological suspension which
uses an electromagnetic current to alter how
rattled your teeth are.
Drive of the Huracan Evo is still sent to all
four wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch
gearbox, and at last, you can alter the various
settings to your own preferences, with an
‘Ego’ setting in the Anima menu. Just like the
Aventador S. Good ol’ sibling rivalry.
Inside, there’s a new touchscreen with
Apple CarPlay integrated, right down on the
centre console… we think. Lamborghini
insists it’s built it, but didn’t think to send any
pictures of the updated interior. Maybe that
bit’s not finished yet. More as we have it.
A pretty thorough update for the baby
Lambo, then. Question is, still want that R8?
Or that McLaren 600LT? Or that Ferrari 488…
VIJAY PATNI
FEBRUARY 2019 19

The e-tron GT is a
Taycan in a sharper suit
As the e-tron SUV is launched into the world, Audi has something
better up its sleeve – a 440kW four-door coupe with Porsche DNA
nother motor show, another Audi
A
e-tron. Audi’s been churning them
out recently – not just the e-tron
SUV and e-tron Sportback, but the
PB18 e-tron supercar and the self-driving
Aicon. The message from the carmaker is clear
– it’s going hard on electric and getting in there
before rivals. Except Tesla. Saturating the
automotive airwaves with product means
BMW and Mercedes have to work hard to make
themselves heard.
The chatter isn’t going to subside anytime
soon. Between now and 2025, Audi will add 12
all-electric cars, giving it across-the-board
presence in a diverse range of shapes and sizes.
Last year, Audi sold over 1.8 million cars. In
seven years’ time it reckons a third, some
600,000, will be electric. If that’s the case,
we’re in for a turnaround of some magnitude.
What we haven’t seen yet is an affordable
one. The e-tron GT does nothing to change
that. It’s a concept at the moment, but will
20 FEBRUARY 2019
Audi’s design boss says the GT
is extremely close to the
production model we’ll see in
2020. Shrink the wheels, add a
numberplate, insert one former
Tesla Model S owner and you’re
pretty much there...
arrive in production form at the end of 2020,
joining the e-tron SUV (on sale middle of this
year) and e-tron Sportback crossover (coming
perhaps in 2020).
It’s been “developed in close collaboration
with Porsche”, says Audi. We’d go further. It’s
Audi keen to ensure the
basically a Taycan, the car formerly known as seats don’t get nicked
Mission E. Very similar in size, ethos and by any other vehicle
power. Visually, they’re not that far apart,
either. Expect the Porsche to be slightly faster/
lower/sportier.
The e-tron GT uses a “more than” 90kWh
battery pack that fills the space between the
axles. There are motors front and back to
provide quattro traction and torque vectoring.
Total system output is 440kW, good for
100km/h in 3.5secs and 200km/h in 12secs
(Porsche quotes the same figures, but puts
‘under’ in front of them). Max is 240km/h,
WLTP range is 400 kilometres, and 800-volt
charging means you’ll be able to charge to 80
per cent in 20 minutes.

So far, so familiar. And predictable. Now
for the less well-known stuff. Brake energy
recuperation will be a big deal. Up to 0.3g,
you won’t be using the ceramic disc brakes
at all, just reversing the polarity of the
electric motors. That should take care of 90
per cent of all your braking needs and you’ll
be able to pull paddles to vary the
deceleration – just like engine braking on
downshifting. That’s not new: Hyundai has
it on the Kona EV. There’s a 450-litre boot
and a 100-litre ‘surprise’ under-bonnet area.
Everyone’s doing them these days. So not a
surprise.
Inside, Audi claims a vegan interior. The
leather is synthetic, there’s a microfibre
headlining and the carpets are made from
recycled fishing nets. Presumably they
remove the dolphins from them first.
The electric platform endows the e-tron
GT with a similarly low centre of gravity to
the R8. Sure, it’s not being pitched in quite
Vegan interior seen here...
pescatarian interior expected to
be less popular
The design team were mortified.
After two years of work, they’d
forgotten the doorhandles
as sporting a direction, but don’t worry –
doubtless Audi will have an electric R8 along
before 2025. Prefer something to scare the
kids in? Audi is also working on a quicker
version of the e-tron SUV. The hot e-tron
will feature a three electric motor set-up,
with two motors on the rear axle. The
reasoning behind it is clear: with a 0–100km/
h time of 5.7secs, the e-tron isn’t that fast
when seen alongside the Jaguar I-Pace and
Tesla’s Model X. Audi wouldn’t be drawn on
further details, so it’s time for some TG
guesswork. The e-tron currently develops
300kW, around 180kW supplied by the rear
motor, another 120kW-odd from the front.
Double the rear motor and you get to 477kW
total. The space and packaging permits it.
Even if Audi reduces overall power to match
the GT at 440kW and so the rear axle
doesn’t dominate, it should bring the
0–100km/h down to around four seconds.
Probably quick enough... OLLIE MARRIAGE
FEBRUARY2 12019
 Four in-wheel motors produceea
total of around 560kW...
and a bakkie-load of torque

Rivians are Teslas his is the R1T bakkie, the first car to from 0–160kph in under seven seconds, with a

T
come from a company called Rivian top speed of 200kph. IN A BAKKIE.
for the off-road working out of California and Size-wise, it’s longer, wider and taller than a

enthusiast London, and – to be blunt – it is

600 kilometres on a charge,
0–100kph in three seconds
and a penchant for mud...
extraordinarily quick. Four electric motors – one
on each wheel – are attached to Rivian’s new
‘skateboard’ platform, packaging the battery,
drive units, suspension and brakes below the
height of each wheel. Which means lots of
passenger space but, more importantly, a low
centre of gravity.
Three battery sizes will be offered: 180kWh
(640 kilometre range), 135kWh (480 kilometre
range) and 105kWh (370 kilometre range). Opt
for the 135kWh one and you’ll see off 0–100kph
in three seconds flat. You’ll also be able to go
Nissan Navara, weighs 2.6 tonnes, is capable of
towing 4,990kg, features double wishbones up
front and multi-link suspension at the rear, as
well as things like dynamic roll control, adaptive
dampers and ride-adjustable air suspension.
Rivian has even fitted a range of hardware
– cameras, lidar, radar, ultrasonic and GPS – to
allow for Level 3 autonomy. And if you like to
keep your cargo dry, there’s a seven-seater SUV
version called the R1S.
“I started Rivian to deliver products the
world didn’t already have,” explains Rivian boss
RJ Scaringe. Pick up yours in 2020. VIJAY PATTNI

Ferrari’s latest one-off special

is an F12tdf speedster
SP3JC is a deeply unsexy name for a deeply exotic car

Hiding beneath this roadster
body is an F12tdf. That means a
574kW 6.3-litre V12 that’ll rev to the
heavens. It’s an enthralling car
and removing the roof ought to
feed even more of its nape-
prickling noise right into your
ears. Wonderful. That engine is
such a work of art, the SP3JC’s
owner has requested glass
panels in the bonnet to show
teasing glimpses of it, and the
colour scheme has been
dictated by its client’s love of pop
art. The brief was for a “pure,
uncompromising roadster” –
something we can all get on
board with. SD

22 FEBRUARY 2019

ummer. Perfect time to unwrap a
S
V8-engined turbo supercar. This is
McLaren’s newest: the 720S Spider,
and it is a 325kph convertible with a
folding hard top.
It follows the 720S Coupe, using a development of
that car’s Monocage II carbon-fibre core. Dubbed
Monocage II-S, it ditches the ‘spine’ running front to
rear and features a redesigned upper rear structure
to accommodate that new folding roof. And because
of that roof, it’s 49kg heavier than the Coupe,
weighing in at 1,332kg dry. McLaren says it’s the
“lightest car in its competitive set”. A Ferrari 488
Spider is in the 720S’s competitive set, and weighs
1,420kg dry.
There’s the familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
matched to a seven-speed gearbox and rear-wheel
drive, producing the same 530kW and 770Nm of
torque as in the Coupe. Thus it records the same
0–100kph time of 2.9secs, 0–200kph in 7.9secs (a
325kph topless
Hairdressers, look away now. The 720S Spider is a
530kW missile on a mission to ruin your barnet
0–100kph in 2.9secs, 0–200kph
in 7.9secs and a quarter mile in
10.4secs. Yup, that’ll do
tenth slower than the Coupe), a quarter-mile time of
10.4secs and top speed of 340kph. That’s with the
roof up. Roof down – which takes just 11 seconds –
it’ll do 325kph. That folding hard top gets a one-piece
carbon roof panel, which is electrically operated up
to speeds of 50kph, and – as a mark of progress – is
six seconds faster than the roof on the old 650S
Spider.
We’re told said hard top’s operational noise is “on
par with background noise in a quiet library”.
McLaren’s engineers have clearly been spending a lot
of time brushing up on their reading. They’ve
reworked the underfloor aero to work with the new
rear and full-width active spoiler and there’s the
option of a carbon-framed, glazed roof that tints if
you hit a button.
Elsewhere – aside from the new 10-spoke forged
alloys and exterior colour options – it’s as per the
Coupe. Same chassis, same handling modes, same
interior. VP
The one thing missing
from the Coupe’s driving
experience? Sunburn
FEBRUARY 2019 23
 JOURNEY
BEYOND

I N S P I R E D B Y T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY
BESTSELLING NOVEL METRO 2035
BY DM I T RY GLUK HOV S K Y

15.02.2019
© 2019 Koch Media GmbH and published by Deep Silver. Developed by 4A Games. 4A Games Limited and their respective logo are trademarks of 4A Games
Limited. Metro Exodus is inspired by the internationally bestselling novels METRO 2033, METRO 2034 and METRO 2035 by Dmitry Glukhovsky. All other
trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. ©2019 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved. “2”, and “PlayStation” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer
18V Entertainment Inc. “Ø” is a trademark of the same company. Distributed exclusively by Apex Interactive. www.apexinteractive.co.za 011 796 5040
 “Now, you can undertake
a two-hour journey in
a G without bringing
your chiropractor along
for the ride
Nothing confuses me as much as the new
Mercedes G-Wagen. Even the Brexit backstop
for the backstop is easier to decipher. Here is the
machine that above all others embodies
everything I dislike about modern motor cars.
And yet I rather love the bloody thing.
The facts against the G are so overwhelming
there’s little point in listing them, but I will
anyway. It’s too big, doesn’t offer that much room
inside, uses vast amounts of fuel and is double the price of Merc’s
own GLC 63 – which is much faster, just as roomy and quieter.
But the G63 is the very definition of charming, and it perfectly
demonstrates the level of dynamic competence required by any
potential customer, so long as the car looks really cool.
It really doesn’t matter that the new G is 25 times better to
drive than its predecessor – which it is – I just found myself
walking up to it with a massive grin and turning and staring at it
after I’d parked up. Actually, it does matter, because you can now
actually use the G like a normal car. You can undertake a
two-hour journey without bringing your chiropractor along for
the ride. So how is it possible to hate the Rolls-Royce Cullinan
with such venom and actively like the G-Wagen?
Because the Rolls has zero heritage and offers little off-road
ability, whereas the Mercedes is a proper old tank? Sadly not. The
only thing this new Mercedes shares with the original Steyr-
Puch military vehicle on which the G was based is the company
logo. I think it’s because when I was driving the Cullinan, I
genuinely felt ashamed to be a member off the h species
ies that
invented it whereas, in the G, I cou d just abou
smile. Yes, people do give the impreession
that you might be a semi-automaticc
weapons vendor but once you’ve
convinced them that isn’t the case,
they settle.
It’s easy just to assume that this was a copy-and-
paste exercise for Mercedes, but I think it has
quietly achieved something very special and pretty
significant. While everyone has been wondering
how the hell Land Rover would reinvent the
Defender, which it appears to have spent about a
decade doing, Mercedes has delivered the most
successful rejig of an iconic shape.
It won’t be the last. I think we might be entering into an era
of retrospective styling. As car platforms become more
homogenised – be they hybrid, full electric or hydrogen-powered
– matched against the 3D-printing revolution, we might well
enter into a new world of coachbuilding. It’s the way cars used to
be built before the Second World War – select the chassis and
powertrain you want and then have your preferred bodywork
plonked on top. If I bought a small electric car, I’d like it to look
like a Peugeot 205, or a Renault 5. Saloon? E39 5-Series please,
because it appears that BMW’s current design team is drinking
too much absinthe. If I felt the need to buy a massive SUV, I’d
like it to look like a G-Wagen – which, by lucky coincidence, it
already does. People need to prepare themselves for car
manufacturers raiding the back catalogue to help add some
misty-eyed emotion to the inert electric underpinnings they will
be trying to flog.
But for now we have the curious world of the Merc G-Wagen.
The most likeable-hateful car ever made. Imagine waking up as
usual one morning, apparently as usual, only to discover you’re a
u
massive fan of Piers M Morgan. Then you’ll have an idea
what it’s like to unnlock the door of the R2mil lump of
peacockk plumage inefficiency, listen to that
familiar ker-thunk as it opens and smile
at the
t absurdity of it all.
FEBRUARY 2019 25
 “The only place I’d draw the
line is buying a Mustang
EcoBoost. Life’s too short
for four cylinders.”

I have been the proud owner of a V8-powered
Ford Mustang convertible for several months now.
I bought it because, oddly, it ticked all the boxes I
needed in a car (four seats, ISOFIX, very loud)
and because I wanted to preserve the honour of
the timeless and venerable naturally aspirated V8
motor while I still could. For months I’ve revelled
in its effortless torque and sensual sound, and
would have continued loving it but for one significant
development: I just realised that taxing it will cost me R10 000.
Needless to say, now I want to set fire to it and roll it off a cliff.
I can put up with the weight of the clutch, which has made
my left leg so ripped it has its own six-pack. And I can put up
with the thimble-sized gas tank, which means it has about the
same driving range as a Nissan Leaf. But R10 000 in tax?
It’s little surprise, then, that V8s, particularly those that
breathe air at atmospheric pressure, are on the wane. Their
disdain for mother nature means more efficient turbocharged
engines are now the future, and there’s no going back.
The cold hard truth is that in Europe almost nobody buys
n/a V8s, and almost nobody bothers making them – besides
Ford, Lexus (LC500) and Maserati (GranTurismo,
although not for much longer).
Everyone has moved on,
downsized and embraced some
combination of turbos, diesel or
electrification.
But you know what? That’s
not necessarily the most
terrible thing in the world. My
attitude is “Let ’em die.” And
that’s coming from a fully paid up member of the
#stanggang. Oh yeah, that’s a thing. Hell, I’ve
even considered ruining the whole naturally
aspirated purity thing and supercharging mine
– everybody with a modded Stang has flirted with
that idea. In the future, I’d even embrace a hybrid
Stang – when Ford releases one in 2020, I’ll be the
first to hand over my money. And why not? Forced
induction and electrification improve acceleration – only
someone wearing heavily rose-tinted specs would deny that –
and make your road tax a lot less alarming. The only place I’d
draw the line is buying a Mustang EcoBoost. Life’s too short for
four cylinders.
Ultimately, then, the main reasons to stick with naturally
aspirated V8s are nostalgia and stubbornness. But the reality is
that some things need to be let go because they’re patently too
absurd to fit in with our modern lives.
Case in point: I want a bakkie. I’d want a lowrider like Snoop
Doggy Dogg had so I could repeatedly bunnyhop all four wheels
three feet in the air while me and a friend twirl a skipping rope
around it. I want an old ’69 Corvette, because that’s the car
astronauts drove. I want a mohawk.
But I realise that some things are only a good idea in
principle and, all things considered, buying my Mustang was
probably not the smartest idea I’ve ever had. Don’t get me
wrong – I’m not ready to sell it any time soon, but when it leaves
my driveway, my heart will go on. I might still dabble in older
V8s as and when I get the urge, but where new cars are
concerned the big, loveable, naturally aspirated V8 is very much
on the way out. And as strange as it sounds to say it…
I’m OK with that.

26 FEBRUARY 2019

#23: George Russell,
The moment I found out I’d got my F1
seat was on the Saturday evening of the
Russian Grand Prix – I was there racing
in Formula Two. I got a message from my
manager saying Claire [Williams] was
after a meeting with me. I had high
hopes, but no idea whether it was
nothing or the moment she’d tell me.
When she broke the news, it was surreal. The Esteban Ocon
situation this year, where there were two deals on the table and both
fell through, meant that while I had trust in Claire’s word, I didn’t
want to celebrate until I had the contract on the table ready to sign.
Having seen Charles Leclerc win Formula Two in his rookie
season and go on to have an amazing year in F1, I had good
confidence my results would be recognised. I knew as long as I was
doing the job on track, the opportunity would come.
It all happened very quickly. After Claire told me, I was in Japan
the following week, then back in the UK with media engagements
and simulator work. Once it went public, I went home that weekend
and spent time with my family – parents, brother, sister, their
partners, my girlfriend. We opened a bottle of champagne… or two,
or three, and cherished the moment. Those are the people that have
supported me my whole career – they’ve sacrificed so much.
The biggest change in stepping up to F1 is the number of
commitments: days at the factory, the media schedule,
the sponsor days, going to the races, the
t reading from the same page, it’s
testing, the debriefing... it’s
“Ultimately, as a driver,
my goal is to become
Formula One world
champion”
Williams F1 driver
absolutely non-stop. It’s something you don’t recognise from the
outside; you think it’s all sunshine and glory in amazing places.
From junior formulas there’s just no comparison at all, but I
recognise that this is what the sport’s all about and you have to do
these things to reach the top. It’s a shock to the system initially, but
I’m loving it for now.
There’s no extra intimidation from being so young. Over the past
five years, a younger generation has come through with Verstappen,
Ocon, Leclerc, Norris, so it’s the norm now. Hopefully we can be the
guys that sustain this amazing sport for years to come.
My first memories of F1 are from the Schumacher era. Naturally
I was a big Schumacher fan to start with, but I wouldn’t say he’s my
outright idol. I have two drivers I admire most. First, Lewis
Hamilton – every time he goes on track, the team can count on him
to do a job. Working with Mercedes over the last two years, I’ve
admired and recognised how much of an influence he has within the
team. The other would be Montoya. I’ve always enjoyed how
aggressive he is with his overtakes and general attitude on the track.
Ultimately, as a driver, my goal is to become F1 world champion.
If you’re looking for a timeframe, I haven’t set one. This year’s target
has to be to get the most out of the car every time I’m on track,
whether that’s a podium or 15th position. I also want to build a
relationship with everyone in the factory – it’s so important to have
that bond. This sport is so complex, the cars are so
complex, that if everybody’s not
impossible to bring it all together.
FEBRUARY 2019 27
Inta
EDITED BY ANDREW LEOPOLD

Faces. Retro. Entertainment. Car Culture. Every month

PIC OF THE MONTH

GOING, GOING, GONE

Car auctions are a big deal these days. But what they rarely do is cater for those who lack the ability to bid on the toolkit of
a 250 GTO, let alone its R1billion entirety. Enter the RM Sotheby’s Youngtimer auction. Youngtimers are cars that are
nearly classics, but not quite. Dating back to the Eighties, they have the credentials – performance, rarity, sheer specialness
– but lack the age/badge combo needed to fetch gazillions. Amazingly, every one of the 140 cars being auctioned is from a
single collection that includes 34 Mercs, 27 BMWs, 12 Rolls-Royces and... um, two Renaults.

FEBRUARY 2019 29
 MY LIFE
IN CARS Sabine
Schmitz
TG’s own Queen of
the Nürburgring talks
‘borrowing’ cars and
Porsches with soul
T
he first car I drove was my mum’s, when I
was 17 – she never used it, so it was easy
as the key was always on the desk. I just
decided to grab it and go – and head
straight to the Nordschleife. That was a BMW
318i. My mother wondered why the tyres were
always worn, and the brakes were soft, and why
the petrol was always gone. One day I took her
car for a race and I put it back in the garage on
slicks. Then she took it to the hairdresser. The
good thing is it was so foggy she couldn’t go
very fast. She came home and said: “I don’t
know what’s wrong with my car; I steer to the
right and it drives to the left.”
I was always a BMW fan, but didn’t have the
money for a BMW. My mum bought me a
Volkswagen Polo GT when I was 18 – I put a
roll cage in it, and I drove it on the ’Ring as
30 FEBRUARY 2019
often as I could. I had it for two years. Then I
drove in the Ford Fiesta Mixed Cup, and I got a
car from Ford. It was a Sierra Cosworth,
rear-wheel drive. I won a couple of races with
that car.
I drove a few more Fords, then I got my first
BMW, which was an 850 CSi. I had a horse
trailer to take to a competition, so I asked a
friend of mine if he could put a hook on the
BMW. It was nearly impossible because the oil
cooler for the rear axle is on the back of the
850. So I said: “Can’t you put the cooling
system somewhere else?”. He said, “Yes, no
problem, bring me the car!”
Now I have a couple of cars. I have the
racing car – a Porsche GT3 R, plus a Porsche
Boxster S in black. It’s quite nice to have a
convertible in the heat. And I have a Ford
bakkie that I use on my ranch.
We have another GT3 R for the road, and a
GT3 RS and a GT2 RS, so a nice Porsche
collection. I must say, the GT2 RS is a weapon.
If you want to go on a track with it, you really
have to think if it’s necessary or not! Because, I
mean, it’s bloody fast. The suspension is so soft
so you have traction, but it’s really forcing the
goal with that car on the Nordschleife – it’s
P O R T R A I T: R OWA N H O R N C A S T L E
very dangerous and very hard to keep on the
track.
I like our Porsches, they handle nicely, but
it’s a lot of work. It’s not like a BMW M6 –
that’s so easy to drive, and where’s the
challenge in that? That’s why I get bored in a
BMW or a Mercedes – they might be made for
the racetrack, but my Porsches have a little bit
of soul.

DODGE
VIPER
The Viper’s 800Nm isn’t the
meatiest torque output in this list,
but its massive 8.4-litre, naturally
aspirated V10 is surely the least
stressed engine this side of a
cruise liner’s. Unlikely to be great
in a crosswind tankslapper.
SABINE’S CARS
BENTLEY
MULSANNE SPEED
The grand old Mulsanne’s
3 8
6.75-litre bi-turbo V8 ‘only’ makes
395kW, but its effortless torque
reserve – a majestic 1098Nm –
truly dwarfs other luxury saloons.
And it’s a much less vulgar
towcar than a Bentayga, don’t
Volkswagen
V lk Polo
P l GT
you think?
Ford Sierra Cosworth
CORVETTE
BMW 850 CSi
ZR1
We’re perilously close to
consumer advice here, so let’s
get back on track. Not only is the
1015Nm superVette a strong
Porsche GT3 RS contender for towing, that huge
rear wing is an ideal lashing
point for extra tow ropes. (GM
may disagree).
TOPGEAR TOP 9
FANTASY
MERCEDES
S65 AMG
Torque is the reason AMG
persists with V12 versions of its
mightiest products. The bi-turbo
V8s are actually quicker, but
there’s something beguiling
about conducting 1000Nm of
near silent urge.
BUGATTI
CHIRON
Probably quite tricky to attach a
towbar to that giant central
exhaust tunnel. But when you’ve
1600Nm on tap, needs must.
Incidentally, the current caravan
land speed record is 228.4kph.
Any billionaires fancy a
challenge?
ASTON MARTIN
DBS SUPERLEGGERA
Hurrah! Aston has built a Ferrari
812 Superfast rival. Sure, the Brit
has more weight and less power.
And it’s slower... but its 900Nm
minces the Italian’s 718Nm. Ask
anyone, torque is what you use
on the road. Especially for
towing a Cygnet.
TESLA
MOD L X
Fun fact, towing fans: Tesla’s SUV is
the only EV currently certified for
towing. Most EV makers don’t
condone it due to range and wear
’n’ tear grumbles. The Model X,
meanwhile, can shift a record-
breaking 2,250kg. Ludicrous.
KOENIGSEGG
REGERA
Another handy candidate for
hyper-towing is Sweden’s
gearbox-free, hybrid ultra-GT.
The Regera’s electricity-
augmented V8 stamps out a
colossal 1984Nm – five times the
Caravan Club’s favourite, the
Hyundai Tucson diesel.
JAGUAR
F-TYPE SVR
Jaguar Land Rover fits pretty
much the same 4x4 powertrain
as it uses in the ultimate RR in its
pretty 2dr Jag. So it figures that
the F-Type SVR should be just as
adept at towing. Strangely, Jag
isn’t returning our calls to find out
if this is true.
31
FEBRUARY 2019
 THE WATCH GURU

TIME WILL TELL

Richard Holt on the art
of predicting the future

E
veryone knows where the car industry is heading. It
will seem increasingly crazy to allow clumsy
humans to drive polluting cars on public roads, and
soon the day will come when we reluctantly go fully
electric and hand the controls to our Silicon Valley
masters.
Predicting the future is not always easy. In the late
Sixties, everyone was confident about the crash and burn
awaiting the mechanical watch industry. Clockwork had
been cutting-edge technology for centuries – a cracking
innings, but nobody stays in bat forever. Quartz watches
were being perfected, and it was clear that in a few years
nobody was going to need old-fashioned cogs and springs
any more.
As watchmaking eyed the scrapyard, it enjoyed some
last glorious days in the sun. The Omega Speedmaster on
the Moon in 1969 and the Heuer Monaco on the wrist of
Steve McQueen in Le Mans – filmed the following year
– were just two of the mechanical watches standing
defiant ahead of the inevitable death of clockwork.
But the end never came. Lots of people bought quartz
watches, of course, and they still do. But plenty of others
carried on wanting only hand-wound and automatic-
winding movements. Why pay more money for something
that does its job less well? You can throw around words
like tradition and craftsmanship, but people prefer
mechanical not for reasons they think about, but simply
for how the watches make them feel. It is the choice
between a watch movement powered by your own hand,
and one powered by a little tin of toxic chemicals.
It is easy to underestimate the role our emotions play.
Yes, computers will soon be safer than us at driving, but
are we really ready to let go? We might not have a choice,
because, unlike watches, the car industry is governed by
rules of safety and practicality. But I like to think that
there’ll always be a group of us who love the act of driving
– and the emotions it brings – too much to ever let it go.
And like cars controlled by humans, the mechanical watch
isn’t going anywhere soon.

32 FEBRUARY 2019
 BELL & ROSS
BR 03-92
NIGHTLUM
This new stealth bomber version of the
classic circle-in-a-square design
contrasts a matte black dial with super-
luminous markings that emit an intense
green light, so that despite the dark
bodywork it’s super-easy to tell the time
when the lights go down. With large
propeller-shaped hour and minute
hands, anti-reflective sapphire crystal
and a 42mm ceramic case that is
water-resistant to 100 metres, it contains a
good old automatic movement and
comes on a strap of either grey-green
calfskin or black synthetic fabric.
bellagiojewellers.co.za

WATCHES OF THE MONTH

OMEGA SEAMASTER TAG HEUER CARRERA OMEGA SPEEDMASTER DARK

DIVER 300M
Sized at 43.5mm it’s distinguished by a
polished/brushed black ceramic
case and grade 5 titanium caseback.
The bezel is also formed with a grade
5 titanium base and includes a black
ceramic ring with a diving scale in
white enamel. On the dial are PVD
titanium hands and indexes, which
are filled with white Super-LumiNova.
omegawatches.com
CALIBRE HEUER 01
Inspired by Aston Martin
luxury is a chronograph with a
sturdy 45mm solid steel case
specifically developed for this
edition. Its movement is visible
through the dial which is
skeletonised in a hexagonal
pattern recalling the details
on the new Vantage.
vaultsa.co.za
SIDE OF THE MOON APOLLO 8
A skeletonised dial reveals a
blackened movement which has
been laser-ablated to decorate the
bridges and main plate with realistic
imagery of the lunar surface.
Produced with black zirconium oxide
ceramic it has varnished yellow
hands while its tachymeter scale and
crown are filled with Super-LumiNova.
omegawatches.com

33
FEBRUARY 2019
 GADGETS

ROLL WITH IT
BAMFORD CARBON-FIBRE WATCH ROLL
Own more than one fancy watch? Bored of packing up your luxury velvet cases every time you head off on a business trip to Dubai?
Never fear. This carbon-fibre ‘watch roll’ (i.e. a carry case safe holder tube thing) comes lined with neoprene and includes “a signature
Bamford Watch Department watch tool”. Japanese ceramic glide rails keep it sliding smooth and it locks into place with a satisfying twist.
It can hold four watches as large as the Rolex Deepsea. R30 000; bamfordlondon.com

GAMING

DIRT RALLY 2.0

High tension levels are guaranteed with
Codemasters’ release of DiRT Rally 2.0 this month.
We already know the game for delivering moments
of gravity-defying jumps, split-second reactions,
near misses and a whole lot of restarts. Few racing
games relay the pressure of motorsport
competition as well as DiRT Rally and the sequel
title is going to add to everything we loved about
the original while improving all elements of
gameplay mechanics. Top of the list is the realism
of traction and dynamics across all surfaces with a
big difference being related to tyre wear
throughout the stage. Codemasters enlisted the
help from rally drivers to ensure the latest game
makes every second feel truly heroic. New
locations have been added while online racers
can create and join tournaments with some hinting
that it could join the growing realm of esports.
R950; btgames.co.za

34 FEBRUARY 2019
 A BRIEF
HISTORY OF...
Overheard on the internet,
so it must be true...

Land-speed
records
North Carolina State
Highway Patrol has 1898 Magnificently named Frenchman Gaston de Chasseloup-
managed to catch a Laubat sets the first recognised land-speed record, hitting a dizzy
22-year-old who drove 63kph in his electric-powered Jeantaud Duc. “See? Told you this
his Dodge Hellcat at petrol thing would never catch on,” says everyone. Several
320kph on public roads
disgruntled horses point out they can do 63kph no problem, but no
before doing donuts
one’s ever given them a shiny certificate.
in the muscle car and
speeding off. How? The 1902 American mogul William K Vanderbilt reaches 122kph in
driver posted footage his petrol-powered Mors Z. “See? Told you this electric thing would
of his escapades on never catch on,” says everyone.
YouTube. Two helpings
of idiot pie, please. 1904 In Ostend, Belgium, Louis Rigolly and his Gobron-Brillié
pass the 160kph barrier for the first time. To this day, this remains
the most exciting thing to have happened in Belgium.
The first 40 Formula
1924 British daredevil Ernest Eldridge breaks the speed record
E racing cars are up on the public road, hitting 235kph in Fiat’s ferocious
for sale. They were Mephistopheles. Adjudicators suggest that, in future, warning other
only ever leased to road users first might be polite.

the teams and are 1924 At Pendine Sands in Wales, Malcolm Campbell sets his first
speed record, reaching 235kph with a little help from an 18.0-litre,
now expected to fetch
V12 aircraft engine. To this day, this remains the most exciting
R5 million each at thing to have happened in Wales.
auction. Batteries are 1935 Malcolm Campbell becomes the first man to break 480kph,
included. But kinda having relocated to Bonneville Salt Flats after complaining,
used ones. “There’s nowhere in Britain to really put your foot down
nowadays.”
1963 Craig Breedlove passes 645kph in his missile-shaped,
Porsche Cayenne is voted a
finalist in the South African
jet-powered Spirit of America. “Told you this petrol thing would
Car of the Year. We’re all too never catch on,” says everyone. Debate rages over whether Spirit of
scared to see what happens America should technically be classed as a car, on account of its
next as other brands move turbojet not driving its wheels, and also not having a glovebox large
closer to the exit enough to fit a copy of the Highway Code.
1997 Thrust SSC clocks 1,228kph in Nevada’s Black Rock desert,
AMG is prepping a becoming the first car to break the sound barrier. Wing
soft-top version of Commander Andy Green discovers that, at such speed, bystanders
can actually hear your screams before they’ve exited your mouth.
the hardcore GT R,
(This is a joke. Wing Commander Andy Green has never screamed
weirdly. It’ll raise the
I M AG E S : G E T T Y, A L A M Y

in his life.)
number of variants of
2017 Bloodhound, the car aiming to crack the 1,600kph barrier,
the snarling Porsche makes its first public run at Newquay Airport in Cornwall. Despite
911 rival to eight. Hurry the 40267kW car only reaching a modest 320kph, to this day locals
up, AMG. There are 23 still speak in hushed tones of the “fearsome orange mechanical
beastie and its furious hunger for speed”.
flavours of 911, as it
stands...

FEBRUARY 2019 35
 36
EDITED BY ANDREW LEOPOLD

FEBRUARY 2019
Zed’s not
olding hard tops were
F invented when soft tops were
too easily penetrated by the
dead
weather and vandals with
Stanley knives. These days, a
well-done fabric roof really is all you could
want for cosiness, and the yobs are too busily
BMW Z4 M40i engaged in social media bullying. So the new
Z4 wears a cloth cap.
R1 030 500 So if there’s no hard top under there, I
wondered aloud to a designer, why’s the tail
WE SAY: IS IT A ROADSTER? so bulky? I kept silent on my opinion that it’s
OR A SPORTS CAR? BOTH, unbecomingly so. Aerodynamics is the
SAYS BMW. LET’S FIND OUT... answer I was given. At the other end of the
car, the jutting jowls are designed to help
capture airflow and usher it past the wheels.
If you don’t like it, lower-spec Z4’s have a
slimmer front bumper. Whatever the reasons,
a measure of gawkiness afflicts the
proportions of this coachwork. Shame. You
want it to be handsome because, more than
any other kind of car, a roof-down roadster is
an item of clothing.
Not just a roadster but a sports car, the
BMW engineers keep saying. They quote a
Nürburgring lap time. La-la-la... I’ve stopped
listening since they told us a time for the
2-Series Active Tourer minivan. Oh hang on,
the Z4 M40i time is under eight minutes. Its
physical dimensions are good for lappery – a
shorter wheelbase than before by a huge
20cm, for agility; a much wider track, for
grip; a lower centre of gravity. The body is a
whole lot stiffer than the old Z4’s, and it’s
FEBRUARY 2019 37
 FEBRUARY I 2019
“BMW is one of the global
holdouts for straight-six
engines and rear drive”
light, aided of course by ditching the
powered hard top. The front suspension,
unlike other BMWs, mounts to a special
aluminium subframe for precision. Those
aren’t the only declarations of intent. The Z4
M40i’s tyres come from the M4. There’s an
e-diff between the rear halfshafts. You get the
gist.
Six cylinders too. When Porsche’s roadster
has just the four and Audi’s five. Mercedes
does six, but they’re in a V not inline, and live
in an SLC. So that’s a win for Munich.
The Z4 M40i that we’re driving here, by the
way, tops off a range that will be joined locally
by the 145kW sDrive 20i for R250k less. The
M40i revs to 7,000rpm, and all the sensations
– in the pull of it and the sound of it – say it’s
pretty darned chuffed to be doing so. You can
wring the best out of it by using the shift
paddles and watching the revs, but BMW
makes it hard for you because the newly
designed virtual instrument panel (common
to the new X5 and 8-Series, and upcoming
3-Series too) has a hopelessly illegible tacho
and tiny gear indicator. I’ve banged on about
the graphics of that cluster before, and
familiarity has in no way bred content.
38 FEBRUARY 2019
Anyway, here we are, cracking along,
enjoying the six-cylinder’s generosity. The
chassis can easily cope. As promised, there’s
enormous grip, and the suspension keeps a
vigilant eye on body roll and float. The
steering is high-geared – gets even more so on
lock too – but it acts intuitively so you can
always aim the car with lovely accuracy, and
even small efforts will thread it into a tight
bend with the immense forces those tyres can
generate. Only thing is, you don’t get a whole
lot of sensation back from the front wheels.
That job is left up to the back end. You feel the
e-diff working as you lean onto the power, the
rear half of the Z4 crouching down and neatly
The roadster – perfect for
holding onto the edge of traction as it bleeds the long heatwave we’re
out of a bend. currently enduring
The engineers say that at the start of the
project they used the M240i as a handling
benchmark, but soon realised that they’d be
insulting themselves if they kept their aim
there. So the target became the M2. I don’t
think the Z4 is quite that transparent, but it’s
that capable, for sure.
The M2 has passive dampers, and their
emphatically judged calibration, especially in
the Competition version, is why the M2 is so

captivating when you’re driving in fully
recreational style. And why it’s jiggly the rest
of the time. The Z4, by contrast, has adaptive
dampers, with two programmes. Even in the
sport mode, where you get clearly sharper
turn-in, they allow the suspension to relax a
certain amount on the straights. In Comfort,
things really become remarkably supple,
rounding off most of what a broken surface
throws at it. So the Z4’s chassis relaxes nicely
into commuting or long-haul work. And while
you’re at it, the driver aids and connectivity
are as hygienic as you’d expect from modern-
German premium.
Roof-up at highway speed, there’s a mildly
turbulent hiss of rushing air, but otherwise its
insulation, warmth and general storm-
proofing are beyond serious reproach. Spend
15 seconds pressing a button to lower the cloth
but keep the windows up and the neat little
wind-blocker in place. That way you can still
enjoy the excellent stereo at speed. Even on a
darkening day there’d be no call for one of
those airscarf gadgets.
Of course the soft top is important for
another reason. It separates the Z4 from the
Toyota Supra coupe. Ah yes, you can thank
Toyota for the existence of the Z4. Six years
ago, BMW phoned the Japanese because it was
looking for fuel cell expertise. Toyota took the
call because it figured on swapping that for the
Germans’ skills in cutting weight, and in
making carbon fibre more cheaply, and in
lithium-ion battery cell chemistry. So far, so
industry-dull.
But then the engineers got talking about a
sports car. Because who wouldn’t? Toyota
wanted a new Supra but didn’t have a
platform. BMW saw the roadster market
softening and wasn’t sure if it could sell
enough to justify replacing the Z4. Together,
though, they might just make a sensible
business of it. BMW of course is one of the
staunchest global holdouts for straight-six
engines and rear drive, two articles of faith for
a Supra.
The basic engineering of the Supra is
BMW, the engine most conspicuously. The
two sports cars’ suspension and basic platform
parts, and the electronics too, come from
BMW’s current set that’s used on every
longitudinal car they’ve launched since the
7-er of 2017. The Supra is tuned and set up
differently from the Z4, but the Z4 people tell
Cabin doesn’t need that
fancy airscarf business as
it’s well storm-proofed
me that this work was actually done largely by
BMW techs to Toyota’s instructions. Both the
cars are built at a BMW-overseen line in the
Magna plant in Austria (the same place that
builds certain 5-Series plus all Jaguar I-Paces
and E-Paces, and the Mercedes G-Wagen, fact
fans).
So if it matters to you that a car has ‘brand
purity’, you’ll be wanting the Z4. If you want a
roadster, that’ll also be the Z4. The Supra, a
coupe, plays to a different, JDM-infused, vibe.
So despite the common rootstock, these cars
legitimately appeal to different audiences.
Meaning more sales overall, which is the whole
point, innit. PAUL HORRELL
SPECIFICATION
2998cc, 6cyl turbo, RWD,
250kW, 500Nm
6.3l/100km, 168g/km CO2
0–100km/h in 4.6secs, 250km/h
1535kg
VERDICT: A tasty drive and
a usable everyday car. Just
lacks the last edge of
engagement, and of beauty.
7 10
FEBRUARY 2019 39
 FEBRUARY I 2019
Mad Merc
Mercedes-Benz X350d Power
R973 188
WE SAY: YOU’LL NEED TO BE A
DIEHARD MERC FAN TO
STOMACH THE ASKING PRICE
t doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to
I
detect that the four-cylinder
Mercedes X-Class models haven’t
exactly flown off the showroom
floors and the evidence is there for all to see in the
form of incentives just seven months after launch.
“Too much money for too many Nissan bits” is
the common cry, so the question is: “Does the
X350d with its German drivetrain redress the
balance?” The answer is that “Rheinheitsgebot”
purity laws are not breached to the same extent,
but the issue now is whether the lesser breach
justifies a price tag that can soar above the million
rand mark.
Instead of a 2.3 Nissan four-cylinder motor
attached to a self-stirred manual or auto box from
Japan, buyers now get a modern 3.0 V6 turbo
diesel and a 7G-Tronic jam-packed with genuine
Mercedes-Benz genes.
Good as those Teutonic bits are, there’s a
nagging anomaly: why is the asking price so high,
particularly when compared with closest rival, the
Amarok V6 TDI?
The X350d comes in Progressive and Power
trim levels and it was the latter we drove over a
diverse route in the Western Cape.
40 FEBRUARY 2019
As on the more testing
launch of the four-cylinder
models, the X350d reaffirmed
that the fancy drivetrain and
respectable clearance make
mincemeat of the toughest terrain.
Permanent 4WD - finessed by comfort,
eco, manual, off-road and sport driving modes
- and a controlled inter-axle differential lock
(0–100%), rear-axle locking differential and
reduction gear together with other electronic
nannies, see to that.
Out in the open, the Merc gallops along rather
nicely thanks to the smooth-spinning and aurally
appealing V6 diesel that delivers effortless low-end
pull and convincing top end thrust while allowing
for relaxed high-gearing.
The familiar 7G-Tronic auto isn’t known for
rapid changes but its mildly lazy nature
complements the engine’s characteristics very
nicely as does its smooth-shifting disposition.
Compared with the four-cylinder versions, this V6
rarely needs to be pushed so refinement levels, as
measured in lack of mechanical commotion, are
much improved.
Anyone with just a modicum of bakkie
knowledge will know that unladen ride is a bugbear
of the genre. Chassis donor, Nissan, went to some
lengths to ameliorate the nasties by employing coil
springs and a rigid axle mated to five links and
Merc’s boffins went further by widening the track,
strengthening the ladder frame and shoving kilos of
sound deadening where space allowed.
The end result is a detectable improvement in
terms of quelling excessive vertical movement, and
at speed the rear end feels acceptably planted but
that typical bakkie shuffle is ever-present. Oddly,
the steering around the
straight-ahead position is
vaguer than an SAA recovery
plan, but once a bit of lock is
applied, the degree of effort is
well-judged.
Inside, there are a number of
Mercedes-inspired improvements such as the
steering wheel (not reach adjustable), the
infotainment system, the instrument cluster and
soft-touch panelling of the dash and upper doors,
but tap the vertical face of the dashboard and you’re
greeted by an unexpected, hollow twang. Even the
neatly-tailored seats are covered in artificial leather
and lots of hard, scratchy plastic lurks in the lower
regions.
In summary, the X350d offers a lovely
drivetrain and excellent off-road competence, but
at this price level you have the right to expect
more in terms of the overall package. After all, a
competitor down the autobahn also offers V6
power in a Rheinheitsgebot-compliant bakkie and
can throw in a decent hatchback as well - for the
same outlay. RICHARD WILEY
SPECIFICATION
2987cc, V6 turbo diesel, 4WD,
190kW, 550Nm
IMAGE: JUSTIN JACOBS @THEJUSTBIN
9.0l/100km, 237g/km CO2
0-100km/h in 7.9secs, 205km/h
2389kg
VERDICT: The price
guarantees exclusivity while
other brands sell big volume.
5 10
 The cheapest way in to Audi limited to scratchy door-top plastics and an

Q& A
ownership, right? incongruous manual handbrake. It’s no longer
Indeed, from an estimated R370 000 – less when supermini-sized, which brings benefits for rear
the entry-level versions arrive next year. But no seat and bootspace (it’ll cope with four adults),

Range
one pays that since 95 per cent of A1 buyers but the stand-out feature is the driving
upgrade to the optional lines. By the way, this is environment with its Virtual Cockpit dash and
the second-gen A1, following eight years after touchscreen interface.

finder the original. Like that car, it does a successful job

of disguising the fact it’s based on the same
toolkit as the VW Polo: different proportions, more
What isn’t it?
A hot hatch, AWD, available as a three-door (it
only accounted for 20 per cent of sales, so it’s
Audi A1 30 TFSI sporting stance, a desire to stand out. gone), inventive or imaginative. Or hybrid or
Like a Mini? electric. At least not yet. OLLIE MARRIAGE
R TBC
You got it. A more serious mindset, but same
focus on premium image and quality. Four

WE SAY: WELCOME TO THE
BOTTOM OF THE AUDI PILE.
IN A GOOD WAY...
engines, all petrol. Diesel’s beyond a dirty word.
All have a single turbo, direct injection and a
particulate filter, power from 85kW to 147kW. I’ll
want the 147kW, right? Absolutely not. The trouble
is that the A1 doesn’t have much zest for life. No
matter which you drive, you find the same lack of
enthusiasm, and while you can forgive this when
you’ve only got 85kW to deploy, you can’t with
what purports to be a 147kW hot hatch. The
four-cylinder engine has no character, and isn’t
that smooth or quiet either. The thrummy little
three-cylinder is the one to have. Chassis-wise, SPECIFICATION
the best you get from the A1 is competence. 999cc, 3cyl turbo, FWD,
85kW, 200Nm

PHOTOGRAPHY: MANUFACTURER
There’s no steering feel and no sense the
4.8l/100km, 108g/km CO2
chassis wants to engage. It goes around
corners blandly 0–100km/h in 9.4secs, 202km/h
But it’s nicely built and good to look 1090kg
at, no?
This is where the A1 earns its keep. The cabin is VERDICT: Neither crisp nor
smart, clever, well packaged, good to get on
with and very nicely made. The drawbacks are
engaging to drive. But both
crisp and engaging to look at
and be in. 7 10

FEBRUARY 2019 41
 FEBRUARY I 2019
Chunky
ships
Jeep Trackhawk vs Range Rover Sport SVR
R2 199 000 vs R 2 281 335
WE SAY: SUPERCHARGED
SUVS AHOY. WHICH MONSTER
PLANET SPINNER WINS?
ou won’t believe what the Jeep
Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Y does when you engage launch
mode. I couldn’t. It was bloody
hilarious. Afterwards. Fairly
shocking during it, if I’m honest.
So you come to a halt, apply as much
pressure as possible to the brake pedal (my
left leg maxed out at 108bar), wallop the
throttle and note that you are already moving
forwards. Yep, the Trackhawk is that eager for
the off. Or, to put it another way, 400mm
Brembo stoppers aren’t man enough to
prevent 522kW of supercharged V8 getting
going.
You release the brakes. The rear wheels
spin, the nose heaves into the air, there’s a
furious bellowing and out of the windscreen
you note that the horizon line has skewed. The
front left tyre must now be flat, you deduce.
It’s not. The rotating masses of the 6.2-litre V8
have rocked the chassis to one side. While your
42 FEBRUARY 2019
brain is processing all this, 2,429kg of prime
US beef is determinedly hurling itself onwards.
It does so in a moderately loose and wayward
fashion that brings to mind actual bulls. Rodeo
ones.
0–100km/h in 3.2 seconds, the on-board
performance app tells me. It’s lying, but not
much – 3.44 is what spills out of our timing
gear. Faster than Jaguar’s ultimate F-Type
SVR. The fastest SUV we’ve ever tested, not
only to 100km/h, but far beyond: 160km/h in
8.00secs, the quarter-mile in 11.81secs at
192km/h.
The Range Rover Sport SVR (4.5secs, 10.1
and 12.8 at 181km/h) can only look on in
dejected misery as the macho Jeep thunders
about, supercharger wailing. But it’s not like
the SVR is a complete weakling, is it? Both are
muscle cars, aren’t they? The connection is
physical for the Jeep – the engine is lifted
straight from the mighty Dodge Challenger
Hellcat. Both feed power from supercharged

V8s to all four wheels permanently via 8spd
auto ’boxes. Each has a rotary controller to
adjust set-up. Both are utterly thunderous. Of
the two, the Range Rover delivers the more
traditional V8 burble and roar, the Jeep a
slightly cleaner, higher note, overlaid almost
RRS SVR SPECIFICATION
5000cc, V8 s’charged, 4WD,
Yes, it might lack the bite and crispness of a 423kW, 700Nm
12.7l/100km, 290g/km CO2
Cayenne, but against its rival here…
No contest, really. Even in a straight line, the 0–100km/h in 4.5secs, 283km/h
Trackhawk rides as if all four wheels are failing to 2377kg
communicate. It feels unsettled. And stiff. It’s not
VERDICT: A wheeled
really the right tool for a cross-country charge. The

8
last night of the proms:
permanently by shrill supercharger whine. Both steering is inert and only gets worse when you add proud, triumphant,
can be heard across many multi-storey levels. lock, there’s a bit of chassis shake and the sense is rowdy in the right way, if
maybe a little pompous.
From there on, things separate out. Only of a car not fully in control of itself. Which, if 10
one can be described as sophisticated. The you’re in the mood for it, makes it an absolute hoot
Range Rover Sport has a stunning cabin, all soft to drive. Yes, it’s all a bit ramshackle, but after
leather and flush-fitting touchscreens. The coping with every corner you get to hoof it up the
surroundings make the noise, when it comes, next straight, nose in the air, supercharger GC TRACKHAWK SPECIFICATION
6166cc, V8 s’charged, 4WD,
P H OTO G R A P H Y: M A R K R I CC I O N I

seem naughtier, dirtier. It pulls like a
locomotive, responds urgently to the throttle,
makes mincemeat of 2.4 tonnes. Back off and it
cruises calmly. The ride’s not soft, but the
biggest refinement disrupter is the firmness of
the front seats. The car’s pretty handy around
shrieking, gearchanges smacking clumsily home. 522kW, 875Nm
And, for all the flaws, it’s bloody amusing. 16.8l/100km, 385g/km CO2
But then you remember it’s R2.1 million. The 0–100km/h in 3.5secs, 290km/h
Range Rover is nearly R100 000 more, but it
2429kg
actually feels like a 2 million rand car. The
Trackhawk doesn’t. The cabin is as messy as the VERDICT: A wheeled rock

7
corners too. The steering is a heartbeat slow dynamics. The Trackhawk is mad, a proper riotous, concert: loud, raucous,
sweaty and slightly
and ever so slightly sticky, but it will get itself hold- tight-here-we-go blast, but it’s difficult to unhinged. Also rather
down a tricky road with stability and control. recommend, even in TG land. OLLIE MARRIAGE loose around the edges.
10

43
FEBRUARY 2019
 FEBRUARY I 2019

Q U I CK T WI N TEST

Bentley Continental GT vs Mercedes S63 Coupe

WE SAY: TWO NEW, MIGHTY GRAND TOURERS. BUT WHICH SUITS HIGH-ROLLERS BEST?
The replacement for the 13-year-old Conti GT. About time. A midlife facelift for Merc’s flagship coupe. Tweaked
What am I Same principles as before, but now 80kg lighter, 48V nose outside, minor rejig inside and a downsized V8 –
looking at? electrics with active anti-roll, cutting-edge tech and, as now four litres instead of 5.5, yet more potent. Doesn’t
buyers demanded, a greater focus on performance. have the E63’s clever switchable 4WD – it’s RWD only.

Yes. But no more effortlessly than the last one. In
extending the Conti’s repertoire in a more dynamic
direction, Bentley has merely maintained the status quo
Does it crush
continents? for long-distance cruising. It is astonishingly stable and
secure, more steady on the road than its rival, if no quieter
or more smooth-riding.
Emphatically. The engine provides massive muscle and a
great rumble, yet it’ll cruise more frugally than the Conti
(10.8/100km plays 12.2l/100km). Wind noise is low
considering that there are no B-pillars, and though it
doesn’t smother the road surface quite as well, it’s more
deft at riding on poor surfaces.

The interior’s craftsmanship and design makes the Merc’s
feel bare and cheap, helping justify the R400 000 price
It had better be uplift. The rotating screen may be optional, the back
luxurious seats only modestly sized, but as an interior to set the
tone for the whole car and make you feel good, this is
very hard to beat.
In isolation it is, but after the Bentley it feels a big step
downmarket. The materials are less tactile, the sheen of
luxury is diminished and the seats, for all their
functionality, don’t deliver quite as much comfort. Still,
there’s a little more room for four of you and the 400-litre
boot is 42 litres larger.

The changes have given the Conti a more assertive Up to a point; it’s longer than the Bentley and feels it. Its
Does it handle character. It resists roll and understeer, body control is 255 front tyres are also less grippy, and being RWD it can’t
well, too? taut and the power delivery is almost unsuitably sudden get its power down as cleanly. Drive it hard out of corners
until you get used to it. Then you can’t help but admire it. and the t/c light will be flashing vigorously.

Bentley Continental GT
R3 395 000
9 10
Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe
R2 932 500
8 10
WO R DS: O L L I E M A R R I AG E /P H OTOS: R OWA N H O R N C A S T L E

VERDICT: Still sophisticated and mature. VERDICT: Meet the hooligan. Loud,
5950cc, twin-turbo W12, Now sportier and faster, too. 3982cc, twin-turbo V8, proud yet mellow when necessary.
AWD, 467kW, 900Nm RWD, 450kW, 900Nm

12.2l/100km, 278g/km CO2 10.8l/100km, 231g/km CO2

1405mm

1422mm

0–100km/h in 3.7secs, 0–100km/h in 4.2secs,

333km/h 250km/h

2244kg 2065kg
4850mm 5051mm
44 FEBRUARY 2019
 Le hot
ake one Renault Megane RS, add all
T
the good bits of the options list, a
fruitier exhaust and power bump to
hatch 220kW (up 15kW) thanks to a new
ceramic-ball-bearing turbo, and you have the
Trophy. Basically a handy aggregation of RS
Renault Megane
goodness without all the box-ticking.
RS 300 Trophy
You get the Cup chassis which includes stiffer
R615 000 (tbc) springs (30 per cent), dampers (25 per cent) and
anti-roll bars (10 per cent), the lighter bi-material
WE SAY: RENAULT SAVES braking system (saving nearly 2kg per corner) 19in
YOU THE EFFORT OF wheels (a R8000 option) and some other desirable
TICKING THE BOXES bits. Then there are optional Trophy-specific items
like some even lighter rims and stickier tyres, and a
rather lovely set of Alcantara-swathed sports seats.
It sounds like a decently thought-out range-topper.
Immediate reactions are that it looks good,
purposeful and muscular without being too
caricature, and that the interior is pleasant enough.
It coughs up a fruity sonic hairball on start-up,
feels chunky from the off, sounds amusing through
the gears. It also twitches into a tight corner like a
housefly, short, sharp and aggressive, quick
steering accentuated by the 4Control all-wheel
steer and giving the impression of a car with a
much shorter wheelbase.
Lift hard with the front wheels turned even the
slightest degree, and the car – at least in Race on a
damp racetrack – will attempt to act like a late
Eighties hot hatch and enter a corner bumfirst,
although the initial shock of such easy oversteer is
easily
e soothed by reactive steering. Quick
impressions might leave you feeling that it
doesn’t feel particularly natural, but really you
just need to drive it a bit more: exposure eases
the fear that you’re about to lift-off directly into
a ditch.
On the road, it’s a different story; the
Trophy rows along quite happily in Sport, even
on pretty abrupt surfaces, soaking away the
worst excesses. It’s not a magic carpet – you
never forget this is a car with intentions, but
neither will it blur vision or rattle teeth. The
6spd manual ’box is fine, with a short but
slightly unsatisfying action that feels as if all the
moving parts are made of plastic. Less rifle bolt,
more like racking the slide on a Nerf gun.
Saying that, it’s fast, fun and well sorted. The
only problem is that this is a really nice hot
hatch in a sector full of greats. With the Golf R
and Civic Type R in the world, you’d have to
really like the way the Renault feels to ignore
the competition. TOM FORD
SPECIFICATION
1798cc, 4cyl turbo petrol, FWD,
220kW, 400Nm
8.1l/100km, 183g/km CO2
0–100km/h in 5.7secs, 260km/h
1419kg
VERDICT: A good hot hatch
in a market full of great
ones. You’d either have to
love how it feels or be a
RenaultSport fan.
7 10
FEBRUARY 2019 45
 en, our
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e ro rpe
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R so n WO
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PA
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46 FEBRUARY 2019
 MOST WANTED 2019

01 TOYOTA SUPRA

47
FEBRUARY 2019
 “IT’S LOW, WIDE AND SHORT – IT’S
ATWO-SEATERONANABBREVIATED
WHEELBASE TO FOSTER AGILITY”

48 FEBRUARY 2019
 MOST WANTED 2019

Finally. You can now at last drink in the looks of the best of Toyota’s heritage, especially the 2000GT in its
the Supra. Or, to use its official full name for the proportions and the glasshouse, and the previous-gen A80 Supra.
first, and possibly last, time: the Toyota GR But Nakamura protests this impulsion was subliminal at most. “I
Supra. Huzzah: the real production Supra. Was was not so mindful of the A80 as we were designing the vehicle,
ever a car more teased and trailed, hinted and but it turned out a lot of people said ‘It looks like the A80.’ After
hyped? Now this really is the one, due to arrive on roads near looking at the final model objectively, I agree and feel that the
you… albeit, sigh, not until June. ‘sense’ of A80 is inherited in the volume from the front wing to
Stare, why don’t you, as it flares its nostrils, narrows its eyes, rear wing. This DNA is inherited without us being aware that it
puffs out its chest, pulls in its stomach and flexes its shoulders? was even happening.”
It seems to know darned well how closely it’s being watched, and Inside, the dash is strongly horizontal, like the GT86’s;
strikes an on-point paparazzi pose. padding on the seats and knee bolsters is supposed to hold you in
It’s low, wide and short – it’s a two-seater on an abbreviated when the cornering loads rise.
wheelbase to foster agility, with a perfectly balanced straight-six Here, suddenly, is gallumphing evidence of the elephant in the
under the long bonnet. room. The switches, the screens, the HUD, the climate control
And at last we have official specs to hand. The engine makes and the rest are clearly BMW’s, albeit the Supra’s instrument
250kW from 5,000 to 6,500rpm, and 500Nm of torque from graphics are nice round dials rather than BMW’s hard-to-read
down at 1,600rpm right through to 4,500. The transmission is polygons.
the familiar ZF eight-speed automatic, the diff a limited-slip job. Because, of course, the Supra is a joint project with BMW.
It weighs under 1,500kg without the driver. Toyota helpfully provides the engine code, B58B30M1, which is
Toyota is claiming 4.3 seconds from zero to 100km/h, abetted the same as the Z4 M40i. Same for the ZF 8HP51 transmission,
by launch control. Top speed is 250km/h, constrained by a and the whole suspension hardware and the platform. Pretty well
limiter. These numbers are not slow. That said, the previous everything under the skin started life at BMW.
Supra, with a remarkably similar layout, albeit every component But then, if you were sitting down to build a new Supra, what
different, made similar numbers back in 1993. At the time, it was would you have done differently? A front-mounted turbo straight
an absurdly hot car, more accelerative than the contemporary six 3.0-litre, rear-drive, a limited-slip diff, a proper sports-car
mid-engined V8 Ferrari 348. Since then we’ve had a quarter- chassis, and a strikingly curvy body on top. Am I talking about
century of horsepower race. the 1993 Supra, or this one? Both.
So the Supra now has a different position to the Supra then. And although the two cars will both be built on the same line,
But what, exactly, is wrong with 250kW? The Supra has similar not by BMW nor Toyota, but by Steyr in Austria, they didn’t end
performance to a Porsche Cayman GT4, BMW M2 Competition, up as a cut ’n’ paste pair of clones like the Toyota GT86 and
the V6 Jaguar F-Type. These sorts of cars on our favourite sorts Subaru BRZ. BMW has a roadster, Toyota a coupe, and they look
of roads paint a wider smile than pretty well anything. entirely different.
The Supra’s design was in the hands of
Nobuo Nakamura, but in talking about the
car he inevitably mentions chief engineer
Tetsuya Tada. Tada did the GT86, so we
trust him. He talks about the Supra as the
86’s “big brother”, in behaviour if not in
size – the 2+2 GT86 is actually longer than
the two-seat Supra.
Nakamura says, “Engineering function
equals design modelling. Dimensions are
typically determined based on thoughts
and discussions with both the engineer and
designer. There was no compromise. With
Tada pursuing driving pleasure, I knew my
mission was to create a design that would
be visually and physically exciting.”
Physically eh? So what’s his favourite part?
“The shaping and mass of the exterior rear
fender, which you can’t help feeling with
your hand.”
He says the mechanical layout meant he
could “reach something beyond Toyota’s Less ‘lipstick on a pig’,
boundaries”. more ‘lipstick on a
BMW Z4 cabin’
But the new Supra stays nicely within

FEBRUARY 2019 49
 MOST WANTED 2019
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Interior, chassis, suspension,
engine, gearbox all
shared with cloth-top Z4.
Why do we want the
Supra so much more?
How different the Toyota and BMW will feel to the driver is
harder to know, at least for the moment. The Z4 is a good car
anyway. It has a lot of extra strength in its chassis mounts for
excellent grip and precision, versus the normal RWD BMW
saloons. From the way Tada talks, he is tuning his car to be a
little more edgy. The extremely strong body – more rigid than the
Lexus LFA supercar was – will let him do what he chooses.
Some tuning choices are left to the driver, as is the modern
way. A sport button affects throttle mapping and engine sound,
shift pattern, steering weight, the electronic control of the active
diff, and the adaptive damper strategy. The ESP has a middle
‘Track’ setting.
The word ‘track’ crops up a lot in Toyota’s talk. GR stands for
Gazoo Racing, the competition division that has lately won Le
Mans, Dakar (albeit not without Hallspeed’s significant input)
and World Rallies, and is now doing versions of road cars too. The
50 FEBRUARY 2019
Supra will race. They’ve had long enough to talk about that.
It’s five years since the FT-1 concept, which was designed in
the California studio. “We did our best to realise its spirit,” says
Nakamura, although that was a much bigger car, for show stand
effect. Then we had the crazy Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept in
March 2018. We saw the BMW Z4 in early 2018 and drove it in
October. We drove the Supra prototype, in an eye-scrambling
patchwork wrap. Then saw photos of the version that’ll race in
Japanese super GT (see panel, right). Then blurry internet leaks
of the Supra proper. The wait has been agonising. Still, better late
than never, and better late and great than timely and mediocre.
It took a long time for Toyota and BMW to decide how to play
this one. We’ve known since 2012 that Toyota was working on
several things with BMW, among them batteries and fuel cells
and lightweight structures and, hey, a sports car.
Up to the end of 2014, the two sides of the sports-car project
 “FROM THE WAY TADA TALKS,
HE IS TUNING THE SUPRA
TO BE A LITTLE MORE EDGY”
were, I was told at the time by a BMW board member, “still
staring at each other across a table” rather than actually
2020 GT LOOKS THE BUSINESS, DOESN’T IT?
developing a car. They each wanted something different, a Good news – the new Toyota
Supra is going racing. Starting
roadster for BMW and a hard-top for Toyota. Once they’d agreed in 2020, a GT-spec Supra will
hard points, the Toyota and BMW design teams separated and compete in Japan’s Super GT
Championship. Previewed by a
instituted a no-peeking rule on each other’s efforts.
suspiciously finished-looking
Actually, for a long time they weren’t sure they could afford to concept at the Tokyo Auto
build the things at all. That’s because sales numbers for two Salon, the plan is for the Supra
to run in the top-flight GT500
seaters, are, as with every righteous and desirable kind of car, class, which this year was won
wilting in the face of the omni-SUV assault. by Jenson Button and team-
mate Naoki Yamamoto in their
Whatever you may think of the new Supra’s under-skin
Honda NSX-GT.
relationship with the Z4, fact is, it simply wouldn’t otherwise For the 2020 season, Super
exist. Nor the Z4, in all probability. They look different on top, GT is adopting ‘Class One’
rules developed together with
they appeal to different heritages, and they might well end up DTM, which unifies the two
driving differently too.
series’ technical regulations.
The Supra will therefore use a
2.0-litre, turbocharged engine
producing over 450kW, for top
speeds of more than 290kph.
The last Supra competed in
the JGTC (Super GT’s forerunner
– the name changed in 2005)
from 1995. It won Toyota
four championships before
it was phased out in the
mid-Noughties in favour of
the Lexus SC430. Lexus has
represented Toyota in Super
GT ever since, most recently
with the 2017 championship-
winning LC500.
51
FEBRUARY 2019
 R CELERATION ROOF K P D

0 00kph
h
29.5m
0 2
0–20 p
8.0 at up to 48kph 100-0kph
340 kph

We’re honestly
surprised Ferrari didn’t
give the 531kW. Just
because it a) could
and b) wanted to
annoy McLaren.

00
0 0
2.85 29.5m 341 kph
0 20
8.0 at up to 48kph 100-0kph

Caveat alert: the

McLaren can only do
325kph with the roof
down. Is therefore

02 03 barely worth bothering

with

FERRARI 488 PISTA SPIDER McLAREN 720S SPIDER

McLaren and Ferrari have always been a bit out of sync. Entirely by design, we suspect. While
the Pista is the ultimate 488 Spider, there will be a quicker 720 Spider. A Longtail, probably, that
will no doubt arrive at the exact same time as the 488’s all-new replacement. And, like these
two, those cars will be as close on paper as it’s possible to be. Cynical, us? Look at the
figures. There’s nothing between them. And even if they only turn out to be 90 per cent as
I M GA E : G E T T Y

good as the coupes on which they’re based, they’ll be among the very best convertibles we’ll
drive this year. Or any year, for that matter. Fingers crossed for a hot summer.

52 FEBRUARY 2019
 MOST WANTED 2019

04 BUGATTI DIVO
UH-OH, CHIRON’S BEEN ON THE ’ROIDS

Contrary to popular belief, Bugattis can do

corners. And we’re promised the new Divo
takes things to another level. Named for
two-time Targa Florio winner Albert, the wild- WATCH THE VID
Visit TopGear.co.za to see
looking hypercar is effectively a rehashed Chiron
(shhhh). Only with the emphasis on handling rather deputy editor Jack
than outright speed. Rix attempting to stay
calm in the presence
So the 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 produces the same
of greatness
1102kW and the seven-speed twin-clutch ’box is
identical. 0–100km/h takes 2.4secs, just like the
Chiron, but the top speed is down to a measly
380km/h. That’s because there’s a lot of aero going on.
The wing is 1.8m wide now – giving 90kg more
downforce at top speed.
Underneath, there are stiffer springs, dampers and
anti-roll bars. Meanwhile, carbon-fibre wiper blades,
grooves cut into the wheel spokes, less insulation, a
lighter sound system and deleted storage in the doors
and centre console contribute to a 35kg weight saving. The cost? €5 million (R78
The result is a car that’s eight seconds faster than a million). You had to be
Chiron around Nardò’s 6.12 kilometre handling circuit. invited to buy one, and you
already had to own a Chiron
to even be considered.
Naturally, all 40 went
immediately

FEBRUARY 2019 53
 The

formula
54 FEBRUARY 2019
 MOST WANTED 2019

05 MERCEDES-AMG ONE
What would an F1 car for the road look
like? Meet the man mad enough to take
this question to its illogical conclusion
WO R D S C H A R L I E T U R N E R & JAC K R I X / I L LU S T R AT I O N PAU L RY D I N G

FEBRUARY 2019 55
 MOST WANTED 2019
Tobias
Moers
isn’t like
most car
company
bosses,
with their perfectly pressed suits and highly
polished rhetoric. He’s a little looser than that,
a little happier to go with the flow – the kind of
bloke who’d rather chat over a stein than a
boardroom table. True to form, he rocks up at a
Stuttgart studio containing the latest model of
his AMG One – the one being used to help
customers spec their £2.5m (R45m) purchase
– just a few minutes late, wearing his trademark
black leather jacket, and marginally dishevelled.
“Sorry, I didn’t land until late last night; I didn’t
get much sleep. Anyone else need a coffee?”
Double espresso in hand, he peels back the
cover and brings us up to date on the most
audacious hypercar project to date – plumbing
Lewis’s F1 motor into a car you can comfortably
take the kids, (OK, kid) to school in. And then I
spot it, the reason why, despite issues and
delays galore, Moers has managed to keep it all
on the rails, because nobody could be calmer
hanging halfway up an engineering cliff face.
And when this man makes a promise to his
customers, he sees it through.
TopGear: How often are you meeting with
the customers?
Tobias Moers: I just met them. We had an event
in Munich in line with Oktoberfest. There were
30 customers coming from everywhere on the
planet. It’s a great community and they enjoy
being part of that community. It’s a very unique
band of people.
56 FEBRUARY 2019
TG: Has there been a delay with
the project?
TM: We have a delay. It’s not a secret
– I can talk openly about it with our
customers, and with you. There were
some adjustments to be made on the
powertrain. Heat is not the problem
– getting a stable idle at 1,200rpm,
that’s challenging. To give you an
example, you have leakage in the
throttles in Formula One and nobody
cares, because it runs at a 5,000rpm
idle. At a 1,200rpm idle, you have to
meet the emissions regulations. You
need a stable, proper idle. If it’s
unstable, your emissions are
unstable.
TG: Are you still confident that
you can deliver?
TM: We promised. We are going to
deliver. Probably around mid-2020,
so we lost maybe nine months or so.
You’ll see the running car this year.
It took a while to get back on track
but we are open with our customers.
You know what they told me? “Make
sure that the car works. Because of
what we have experienced in the past
with hybrid cars, take your time.”
TG: What makes this a true AMG?
TM: It’s the driving behaviour of the
car. It’s an overall package. Formula
One has its own identity, and the
cool thing is, when you drive the car
– which I have – it sounds
unbelievable. You don’t hear it that
well if you’re wearing a helmet, but it
sounds like an F1 car.
TG: Describe the sound at idle?
TM: BAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!
TG: Has it been tested on the
road?
TM: No, we are not on the road yet.
We have a hub in Millbrook where we
work on calibration, gearbox,
everything. It’s not easy to get a
hybrid F1 engine to work with a
totally new gearbox and software,
but we’ve made good improvements.
It’s drivable. You can run it on pure
electric. You can run it combined. It
works. We haven’t worked out the
final power output yet, but we know
it’ll be more than 400kW from the
combustion engine alone, and we’re
working on the electric motors as
well. It’s definitely more than 780kW
in total.
TG: Are you doing much
simulator work with the car?
TM: Absolutely. We are now running
the installation on the simulator at

WATCH THE VID
Head online to TopGear.co.za
to watch our in-depth
walkaround of the Mercedes-
AMG One
and hear its Formula
One engine sing
AMG, the most sophisticated
simulator you can get. You have to be
extremely stable [pats stomach] for
it. My first time in it after
Breidscheid (on the Nürburgring), I
was sick!
TG: How are you going to
prepare owners for such an
extreme driving experience?
TM: It’s not a problem. You press the
button, it starts. You can drive it
easily. You can start on electric
power, then the combustion engine
kicks in. You can run the car easily
and – though you might not like to
do it – you can run it easily in the
city. Stop and go, everything.
TG: Will the F1 drivers be
involved?
TM: Yes, but they are really busy.
They will be soon, but it’s too early
for these guys. We need to be at the
next level.
TG: Do you have any downforce
figures yet?
TM: No numbers I can share, but
more than a GT3 racecar definitely.
We could apply more, but then you
start running into serious issues
with the tyres.
TG: How does the rev limit
compare to an F1 car’s?
TM: They used to run up to
18,000rpm back in the day, but not
anymore – they run about 13 or 14.
Here we’re running up to 11,000,
maybe we can add a little bit more to
that, too. Engine life is about
50,000km and then it’s a rebuild, but
who’s going to get there? Not that
many.
TG: Do they need much talent to
get the most from the car?
TM: If you want to take it on the
track, yes. Because you have to
identify the point where downforce
is important. Drive a car without
downforce and it goes sideways, do
that here and it’s not going to end in
a good way. When this thing drifts,
it’s not easy.
TG: Have you had to readjust
your definition of fast?
TM: Yes, a little. It feels like a GT3
full-powered on the Nordschleife in
fast forward. Compared to the AMG
GT R, it’s like it is in fast forward.
TG: Will tech from the One
trickle down into other
vehicles?
TM: Everything we learned with the
SLS Electric Drive is in the One. It’s
still alive. It’s the same here. Take
electrified turbochargers, for
example. It’s an 80kW electric unit
in the One. We’re not going to use
80kW for a normal road car, but it’s
something that we’ll see in our
future portfolio, for sure.
TG: Is a track-only version
planned?
TM: No. We promised our
customers one version only, and
that’s what it should be. This is the
most honest way.
TG: Finally, this versus an F1 car
on a short track. How close
would it be?
TM: Very close…
FEBRUARY 2019 57
 MOST WANTED 2019

Z’s back
Z’s back
06 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH ZAGATOS
Picking just one Zagato-tweaked
Vanquish would be impossible.
Fortunately we have keys to all four...

WO R D S JA SO N BA R LOW / P H OTO G R A P H Y L E E B R I M B L E

58 FEBRUARY 2019
 Beauty and madness, Aston Martin calls it. It’s a
brilliant juxtaposition, but they’re not the only ones
that can push that envelope. As all four members of
the latest Aston Zagato family are gently decanted, the
sky above us simultaneously darkens and seems to get
bigger. This is Dungeness, a place that’s fiercely protected by its
inhabitants and beloved of anyone who can see beyond the
conventionally beautiful. “ALL FOUR V12S
WARMING UP,
The same could be said of Zagato. In 2019, this most defiantly
original of Italian carrozzeria will celebrate its centenary. Ugo Zagato

ALMOST 1800KW
applied aerospace techniques to car manufacture; Indeed, many of the
greatest Alfas and Lancias wore Zagato-designed bodies. The 1964 Alfa
TZ2 could actually be the most beautiful car ever made; others wilfully
bucked trends.
So this is a rich seam. Aston has reprised its relationship with AND R48 MILLION
BETWEEN THEM”
Zagato various times since then, always in low numbers, not always
with crowd-pleasing results: 1986’s ultra-wedgy V8 Vantage Zagato
remains undervalued despite its rarity, and 2003’s DB7 GT Z co-pro is
waiting for its moment.
We’re not acquainted with the gentleman who owns the cars you
see here, but we are indebted to him. A Scottish property magnate, he
dodged the hideous dilemma of having to choose which of the latest
Aston Vanquish Zagato collaboration to go for by plumping for all of
them.

Speedster boasts the

most decadent of rear
accoutrements: a pop-up
canape shelf

Probably the only time a

Zagato driver will see a
Zagato in his rear mirror

FEBRUARY 2019 59
 MOST WANTED 2019

Zorro had visited, and

his handiwork was more
intricate than ever

The proposed Zagato

Barchetta was unquestionably
lightweight but short on rigidity

60 FEBRUARY 2019

Really the only Aston to
consider if you need to shift a
job-lot of mackerel
He only took delivery of his new carbon-fibre-bodied family the day
before, and yet here we are in Dungeness, all four V12s warming up,
almost 1800 kilowatts between them and costing £2.68m (R48m) in
total.
Although the Shooting Brake is the newest and most intriguing of
the quartet, it’s the Speedster that draws me in first. Theoretically a
problem for the famous Zagato ‘double bubble’ roof, the Speedster gets
around that by having a pair of what Aston dubs Speed Humps,
streamlined cowls. While the other three members of the family –
Coupe, Volante and Shooting Brake – number 99 in production, only 28
Speedsters are being made, for reasons no one at Aston can quite
explain.
We don’t have a lot of time, but somehow I manage to get behind
the wheel of all four, something I’m not sure anyone else on the planet
has yet managed. Obviously, there’s a commonality, but they also all
have their own traits. The Coupe is the most classically exact, its roof
and visor-like glasshouse the elements that tie it explicitly into the
Zagato narrative. The Volante feels phenomenally solid, with only the
merest shimmy betraying its convertible roof. The Speedster is the
loudest and most aggressive.
But it’s the Shooting Brake that’s the most intriguing. Quite why an
estate car incarnation of a gob-smacking coupe should exert such an
allure is a mystery… This is the most overtly concepty of the four cars,
the one that makes onlookers gape.
“THIS IS THE MOST OVERTLY
CONCEPTY OF THE FOUR, THE ONE
THAT MAKES ONLOOKERS GAPE
“It’s a privilege to have worked on these cars with Zagato,” Aston
Martin’s director of design Miles Nurnberger tells me. “These guys
were one of my passions when I was a kid, and there’s definitely
something left-field about them. They’re very personal designs, they
create cars that look like the opposite of boardroom decisions. The
proportions were often, shall we say, non-standard.”
The Shooting Brake turned out to be tricky as a whole. The
Vanquish’s fuel tank is located behind the seats, which would have
made it the world’s most useless estate. Having reworked the VH
platform and moved the tank on the Rapide super-saloon, the
engineering team realised they could use its rear end on the SB. It sits
on a longer wheelbase than the others, and though it looks lower it’s
actually taller. The roof is an equally impressive feat, and features a
reinterpretation of the double bubble with a huge photochromic glass
panel that darkens that brooding Dungeness sky at the touch of a
button on the centre console.
As in the others, the interior combines herringbone carbon fibre
with aniline leather, and there’s a Z quilt pattern on the seats and door
sections. Then you look over your shoulder into the most artful
luggage bay ever, and up – and through – that glorious roof.
Dynamically, it’s every bit as good as the other three, but its elongated
form somehow best channels a century of beautiful Italian madness.
“This is the one of the four I’d steal,” Nurnberger says. But he might
find the key already gone.
 07 BBMW M8
A Bentley GT by Bavaria, ja? Simple
arrithmetic says the 8 is the ultimate
‘Ultimate Driving Machine’. So, the M8, with
s V8 wound past 440kW, in coupe, cabrio,
its
nd 4dr form (like this green ’n’ gold
an
oncept), is something to look forward to.
co
Targets Conti GT and the Merc S63. BRAND ROVER
There’ll be a family of
Defenders: three door,

08 NISSAN GT-R 50 five door and potentially a

bakkie, and a choice of
city-chic spec or rufty-
Happy birthday, GT-R. Styling
tufty no-nonsense
house Italdesign’s wild, gold-
inflected tribute to Nissan’s manga
supercoupe went down so well,
the 530kW one-off has been
greenlighted for production. The
50-strong run is sold out, despite
costing £900k (R15m) each. And not
featuring real gold.

09 FORD RANGER RAP-

TOR
This baby Raptor musters only 157kW,
but features a stronger chassis,
race-spec suspension, 10 gears and
more ground clearance than a
Cessna. ’Murica’s oversized truck
addiction will be built in Pretoria. Gulp.

10 PORSCHE 911 CABRIOLET

If you’re disappointed by the sound of a new 4cyl
718 Boxster you’ll be relieved to hear that the new
911 Carrera Cabriolet rattles the air with the same
flat-six twin turbo inherited from its coupe sibling.
The numbers say it’ll be as quick on the same
stretch of road with first models expected towards
the end of 2019.

11 BMW 7 SERIES
RENDER: ANDREI AVARVARII

It’s all about maximum presence and

intimidation nowadays and BMW
proves you don’t necessarily need
to do that with an SUV – although the
X7 may disagree. New 7 Series looks
like a pedestrian’s worst nightmare,
but will it be the S Class’s when it
arrives later this year?

62 FEBRUARY 2019

12 LAND ROVER DEFENDER
CAN IT PLEASE HIPSTERS AND HILL FARMERS?
Given that Land Rover’s brand DNA is largely
built around the legend of the Defender, it’s
incredible the company has had to plough on
without it since the veteran was finally laid to rest in
January 2016. Reinventing it is an unenviable task. It’s
got to maintain that go-anywhere, zero-nonsense
authenticity while aceing crash tests, catering to the
city crowd who lust for the image, and avoiding
alienating the mountain rescuers, lifeguards and
farmers who depend on a Defender for their
livelihoods... and sometimes their lives. Design boss
Gerry McGovern has spearheaded Land Rover’s
MOST WANTED 2019
renaissance by gentrifying the products, sprinkling
motifs from the wildly successful Evoque into the
Discovery and Range Rover. But adding swept
headlights and 23-inch wheels to a Defender won’t do.
Spy shots indicate the new car, due for reveal in late
2019, will still be bluff and boxy, with mega ground
clearance, as our CGI prediction shows. We’re also
expecting a focus on fiendishly clever surface-
detecting traction and suspension modes, and a choice
of powertrains including a semi-electric hybrid. A
brave new world for the Defender. Would the world
accept anything less?
63
FEBRUARY 2019
 ALL FOUR ONE
So, the big trends in 2019?
More electric cars. More
all-wheel drive cars. And no
signs of the car industry
abandoning the power wars,
or 0–100kph brags

13
ARIEL
HIPERCAR
0–160kph in 3.8secs.
Gulp
Yep, 160kph. Ariel’s 880kW
electric HIPERCAR (High
Peformance Carbon
Reduction) is a collaboration
with numerous British brands
including Delta Motorsport,
and could rewrite EV
performance as we know it.
The 42kWh battery pack will
be juiced by a gas turbine
range extender after 15mins
of track time, and yes, it’s
road-legal. Expect emissions
to match a supermini with
Bugatti-busting urge. Watch
this space.
14
MERCEDES-AMG PORSCHE
A45 TAYCAN
300kW... in a
hatchback
In fact, expect 310kW in the A45
S, according to leaked technical
documents. AMG is pushing the
2.0-litre, 4cyl turbo engine to its
limits for its next hyperhatch. You
thought Merc would allow the
294kW Audi RS3 to win the
power war? Hah! As this teaser
shot proves, the new A45 will be
way more playful, thanks to a
Focus RS-style drift mode. We
predict 0–100kph in under
4.0secs, Nürburgring hatch
records and little to no change
from a million bucks. Baby AMG?
Not so much.
15
Stuttgart’s ’leccy
barge
First things first, it’s “Tie-kan” as
in Turkish for “lively young
horse”, not “Ta-ken” as in Liam
Neeson B-movies. Porsche has
invested €500m (R8 billion) in its
first fully electric car, which
could be priced sub-Panamera
and tackle the Tesla Model S
head-on. We’re promised a
properly soulful Porsche driving
experience, north of 450kW,
and 30min recharges thanks to
800V fast chargers. A Sport
Turismo estate is also
confirmed. More intriguing than
the new 911? Just a bit.
16
JAGUAR
F-PACE SVR
Think British
Macan Turbo
Really, it’s happening this time.
Sporting XXL nostrils and a
supercharged 404kW V8, the
ultimate F-Pace was revealed
way back in March 2018. Then
the whole project went
ominously quiet. Jag’s Special
Vehicle Ops says a “critical
parts supply issue” was the
culprit. The paciest F-Pace will
arrive with customers in April.
Early rumours suggest a
284kph SUV that’ll crack 100kph
in 4.1 seconds and make a
noise like irritable thunder.
Better late than never...

64 FEBRUARY 2019
 MOST WANTED 2019

17 POLESTAR 1
LOVELY, NOT-A-VOLVO SUPER-HYBRID AHOY

Volvo is on superb form. Since it was taken
under the wing of China’s Geely, it’s flourished,
with smartly designed, refreshingly un-
thrusting saloons and SUVs that’ve rediscovered the art
of waftiness. But if you want a more sporty Swede, plans
are afoot. Volvo’s racing team cohort Polestar has been
jettisoned from the mothership to be a standalone
electric performance brand. Its first car, the
imaginatively titled 1, looks identical to Volvo’s stunning
2016 Coupe Concept, and is, erm, not electric. It’s a
plug-in hybrid, capable of up to 150 kilometres of range
from a 230kg battery, powering twin rear motors with a
combined output of 160kW. Up front, a tuned 2.0-litre,
four-cylinder petrol engine, resulting in, when you’re
fully charged, 440kW and 986Nm of combined four-
wheel-drive punch. Need a 4x4 for the weekend? You can
swap for an XC90, or any other Volvo. This is the poster
car, the flagship (because speed and style sell). Later in
2019, we’ll see a fully electric saloon – the Polestar 2.
Guess what the SUV will be called…

18 VW ID
VOLKSWAGEN WANTS THE WORLD
TO FORGET ABOUT DIESELGATE.
WE DRIVE ITS EV APOLOGY
The Beetle and Golf… Volkswagen has been defined
by these two massive hits. Now the company says
this new electric car will be just as important. If
things go to plan, the ID will reinvent Volkswagen itself. The
ID is electric now, it’ll be autonomous later, and there will be
dozens of cars on this one platform. The platform…now
those origins are interesting. One weekend in November
2015, just after Dieselgate broke, the board decided to build
UNLEASH THE ID
Not convinced the ID has a logical place in South Africa?
this new electric platform and it’s moved along at These spy shots taken in Cape Town prove otherwise.
astonishing pace since then.
VW says this hatchback will cost the same as a Golf with
comparable equipment. Even from this prototype, it’s clear
that in most significant ways it’ll be a nicer prospect than
the Golf, although VW will carry on making combustion-
powered alternatives for years, if not decades. It kept
building rear-engined Beetles up to 2003 but few rational
people wanted one after the Golf launched in 1974.
 MOST WANTED 2019

One engine
to rule them all

66 FEBRUARY 2019
 19 ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE
That’s it, everyone can go home. The Valkyrie’s
V12 – and this spec – will not be bettered
WO R D S JAC K R I X

67
FEBRUARY 2019
 JOY OF SPECS
Note the new active front
splitter and perforated side
sills... not only is this the final
final design, it’s also a car
specced by Jack’s own fair
hands. Watch a vid of him
pretending to know what he’s
doing on topgear.co.

When I met Adrian Newey to discuss
the Valkyrie back in summer 2017,
something he said lodged in my brain
like a fish hook: that the 12-into-one
exhaust system, rather than two
six-into-ones, “makes it sound like it’s revving twice as
high as it actually is.” For an engine we now know
redlines at 11,100rpm, that’s quite a claim. Probably
why I’m standing in a dingy corridor somewhere in the
Cosworth factory (the acoustic sweet spot, I’m told)
with my ear pressed against a cold steel door, and
mildly fearful of what’s about to be awoken on the dyno
the other side.
What occurs is a sound every bit as pure and
piercing as we’d prayed for. A sound impossible not to
compare to F1’s manic 18,000rpm V10 era. In fact,
listen closely as you lose yourself down a YouTube
wormhole, and it’s Senna’s Honda V12 from the 1991
MP4/6 that it most closely emulates in tone and
ferocity. Anyway, you get the idea – it’s special. The
Developed by Cosworth from a blank screen in a
little over two years, it’s a 6.5-litre, nat-asp V12 making
745kW at 10,500rpm, and 740Nm at 7,000rpm. Its red
line potentially eclipses the AMG One’s 1.6-litre turbo
V6 by a cheeky 100rpm, and will be augmented by an
electric motor too, contributing a further 75kW.
Perhaps Cosworth’s greatest achievement, though, is
keeping the weight of the engine down to just 206kg.
For context, the One-77’s V12, itself a lightweight
motor, weighs almost 80kg more.
The initial wish list in mid-2016 was to build a
6.0-litre producing 670kW and weighing 200kg. The
numbers have grown in the interim, which makes the
story of how Cosworth made it stick all the more
astonishing. Over to Bruce Wood, Cosworth’s MD, to
Cosworth had stumbled
across a unique way to
reduce its ’leccy bill

most special sound I’ve heard from a road car engine…

ever. Heartening news for the 150 customers awaiting
delivery of their £2.5m (R45m) investments, from the
tail end of this year.

68 FEBRUARY 2019

Squint, fly overhead and
‘our’ Valkyrie is, quite
literally, the bomb
explain the complexity of the task: “Most engines only have to contain
the forces they generate themselves, but this is a fully structural
element in the car. Take the engine out and there’s nothing holding
the front and rear wheels together. To transmit all that downforce, all
the cornering loads, everything, through the engine architecture,
contain 1,000hp and deliver 200kg, is a huge challenge.”
But one you get the impression Bruce and his team live for. So how
do you simultaneously strengthen and lighten? “It’s all in the detail.
The cam covers for example, we budgeted six weeks of analysis. It was
probably more like two years by the time we finished. If we hadn’t
worried about putting another 2kg on them, it would have been easy.”
The driving force behind these seemingly impossible targets?
Adrian Newey of course, the man who, on seeing the finished engine’s
lacquered plenum, pulled a face. Here was 30g that could be saved,
which is why customers will be able to order their engines with or
without a shiny coat. Too anal? Perhaps, but it’s Newey’s forensic
attention to detail that has taken this project to places untravelled.
“This is Adrian’s modus operandi,” says Bruce. “He sets you a target
which is more than you can deliver, and only when he’s content that
you’ve applied every bit of engineering resource and knowledge you
and he can think of does he agree it’s done.”
So, how do you land on a 11,100rpm red line and peak power at a
punchy 10,500rpm? Another Newey stipulation from the get-go,
surely? Not so, says Bruce, “That came from us.” Newey was keen for
MOST WANTED 2019
MORE SPEED, YOU SAY?
Stock Valk’ a tad slow? Help is at hand... for a mere
gazillion pounds (exact price TBC), customers can add an
optional track pack, claimed to cut lap times by 8 per
cent. Lighter titanium brakes, magnesium and carbon
disc wheels, 50mm lower ‘track-focused’ suspension and
a new, more aggressive front clamshell, along with a full
matching set of body panels, so even your car has a
personalised race suit and speedy boots for that
occasional weekend track sesh. And yes, this blue car
and that interior are Jack’s handiwork, too. Sheer
configurator nirvana.
the engine to be high-revving of course, because F1, but the final
number was dictated by the performance targets. “With a normally
aspirated engine, you only have capacity and revs to play with, so it
was inevitable we would end up north of 10,000rpm. And in early
testing, we realised 1,000bhp was within our grasp.”
By “early testing”, Bruce is referring to a quarter-scale, 3cyl test
engine built to check emissions and power were on track. “We took
a 4cyl of our own design, chopped a cylinder off, made a special
cylinder head and replicated the combustion system, valve
actuation and engine speed. Because we delivered 187kW out of
that, we knew we’d be fine.” If any manufacturer is looking for an
11,000rpm, 187kW, 3cyl for its next hot hatch, give Cosworth a call.
It’s become de rigueur these days to label any new, nat-asp
engine – V12s especially – as the last of their type. I won’t fall into
that trap – given the augmentation to power, torque and economy
figures electric motors offer – but this engine, in this car, has the
feel of a once-in-a-lifetime event. Bruce agrees: “Whether anybody
ever does another one, who can tell? But in our view, this is the
pinnacle of what you can achieve; nobody’s going to produce a more
iconic V12 than this.”
6 92019
FEBRUARY
 T H E C A

70 FEBRUARY 2019
 Panamera in Bahrain

As the curtain slowly falls on the

oil age, is the world really ready
to go cold turkey? We head to
Bahrain in search of answers
WO R D S JAC K R I X / P H OTO G R A P H Y M A R K R I CC I O N I

B L E G U Y

FEBRUARY 2019 71
 Panamera in Bahrain

o camping beyond this sign,

reads the least necessary
warning in the history of
mankind. I move in for a closer
look – no quad biking or
motocross either. Fortunately,
neither Mark nor I fancy
sleeping under canvas or
breaking out the fast,
flammable toys, given we’re
parked in the middle of an oil
and natural gas field,
surrounded by flare stacks the size of rockets, a swarm of pipes
and a landscape that looks like a pilot run for Elon’s Mars
colonisation plan. Every few minutes, a truck of quizzical looks
trundles past. It feels distinctly like we shouldn’t be here, but
apparently clueless strangers roaming around large-scale
industrial facilities in a 500kW hybrid Porsche are perfectly
acceptable in Bahrain. Better engage stealth mode, just to be sure.
We’re here because, as the EV revolution gathers pace and
tightens its grip around the jugular of the oil age, it feels like the
right moment to take a stock check on fossil fuels and our
expanding thirst for energy in general. What’s actually
left, and when will we run out? Are we in any way ready to
go cold turkey on hydrocarbons? Will our children’s
children be denied the primal joy of a throbbing V8?
And why Bahrain? Partly because it takes 20 minutes to
drive anywhere on the island, which is handy, but really
because just as a petrol-electric Porsche is a shiny symbol
of an industry in transition, this tiny island in the Persian
Gulf is a microcosm of the energy conundrum facing us
all. Although it was the first country in the Middle East to
strike oil in 1932 (it’s true – we visited the hole in the
ground where it happened), it’s also on course to be the first to
run out. Compared with its neighbour to the west, Bahrain is a
minnow, producing around 200,000 barrels per day, roughly 60
times less than Saudi Arabia, and at the current rate of
production, its reserves will run dry in just seven years. Not
ideal, given 75 per cent of government revenue in 2017 was
directly from fossil fuels. Time to start thinking fast, and to be
fair, it isn’t entirely burying its head in the sand.
Having spent the day gliding silently around the old fields
(with the odd foray onto the sand to engage the 4.0-litre V8 and
confirm the four-wheel-drive system is, indeed, rear-biased) and
playing chicken with the flare stacks (if you smell your eyebrows
burning, you’re probably close enough), we make our way to a
ground-mounted solar farm at Bahrain University – enough to
power 30 houses a year – one of a handful of fledgling solar
projects cropping up around the country. Looks like the penny

72 FEBRUARY 2019
 And now for our
favourite party piece:
the hypocritical drift

“We play chicken

with the flare
stacks: if you smell
your eyebrows
burning, you’re
close enough”

That’s the thing about

drilling for oil... you’re
never short of lube

Porsche’s clean home

charging system wasn’t as
compact as it had hoped
 Parking at Bahrain’s
premier tourist attraction
was less of an issue than
we thought
Panamera in Bahrain
Jack recharging his
batteries via his
solar-powered face
has dropped that in a place with 3,350 hours of sunshine a year,
solar might be the way to go. Wind power is being given an
audition, too, although the three turbines attached to the
Bahrain World Trade Centre are more decoration than
meaningful contribution (supposedly they provide 15 per cent
of the power for the building they’re stuck to, but we didn’t see
them rotate once in two days from our hotel on the opposite
side of the water).
On a global scale, the facts suggest similar amounts of
nonchalance. Worldwide CO2 emissions will hit an all-time high
in 2018, thanks largely to China’s fondness for burning coal, but
emissions from cars, trucks and planes all over the planet
continue to rise. If we continue to consume oil at our current
rate (consumption actually climbed 1.8 per cent in 2017
compared with 2016) all proven reserves will run out by 2052.
Use natural gas to cover the deficit and that’ll last until 2060.
74 FEBRUARY 2019
Use coal to plug the gap beyond that and we’ll run out
completely in 2088… and that’s ignoring the side effects of
releasing all that CO2 into the atmosphere. Bleak, isn’t it? But
before you start stockpiling BBQ cannisters, there’s hope of a
somewhat brighter scenario.
New reserves will be found. Bahrain itself has recently
discovered 80 billion barrels of oil and 10 trillion cubic feet of
natural gas off its west coast, a supply that, if deemed
economically viable to extract, could deliver a titanic boost to
the economy. But the silver bullet is renewable energy – increase
the mix of wind, solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal, and the
reliance on and usage of fossil fuels dwindles proportionally.
Keep increasing renewable energy’s contribution towards 100
per cent of the mix, and we’ll not only help stall the effects of
climate change but stretch our reserves of fossil fuel
indefinitely. Jack Junior might own that V8 after all.
 “One day our grandchildren will
laugh when they hear cars used to
move via a series of explosions”

the way an electric motor complements a combustion engine –

Bahrain’s gas-powered
traffic light system never
failed to impress
And the thing is, I’m not sure the tapering process – when it
comes to cars, at least – is going to be as painful as we all
imagine. I’ll admit, there are some teething issues with plug-in
hybrids – this particular one weighs 315kg more, costs R500 000
more and is only 0.4 seconds faster 0–100km/h than the
non-e-hybrid Panamera Turbo. And the brake feel is a bit odd, a
hazard of mixing regen braking with actual pads on disc. But
filling the torque holes, giving it a sizeable kick up the arse at
low revs – is sheer poetry. Likewise, full EVs are too porky and
still too light on range when you drive them like a normal
human being, but the ferocity of the acceleration one minute
and the calmness of the experience the next is an exciting
platform to build from. Batteries will improve, we’ll get there,
and one day our grandchildren will laugh heartily when they
hear cars used to move via a series of controlled explosions.
View it like this – electric cars are here to preserve unleaded,
not rid the world of it – and even the staunchest petrolhead
might be able to soften their opinions. Given around 50 per cent
of the world’s oil consumption is by road transportation, you
can see why our beloved motor carriages are being targeted, and
why these juggernaut-manufacturers, their roots soaked in
Brent Crude, are reacting so fast. Companies like Porsche – its

FEBRUARY 2019 75
 Panamera in Bahrain

“It’s time to
cut back on
the black
stuff while
it’s still a
choice, not
a necessity”

76 FEBRUARY 2019
reputation built on bolting spectacular combustion engines into
equally accomplished chassis – now produces cars like this
500kW saloon capable of 0–100km/h in 3.4 seconds on one hand,
and 2.9l/100km (according to Porsche’s calculations, at least)
and 50 kilometres with the engine off (says Porsche; 20
kilometres in reality) on t’other. Soon the fastest new 911 will
be a hybrid, and waiting in the wings is the Taycan, Stuttgart’s
first all-electric model. The landscape is changing, and it’s
changing fast.
Pity the charging infrastructure isn’t doing the same. If you
thought finding a functioning public juicer in SA was difficult,
we couldn’t find a single one in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The
only other electrically assisted car we saw was a stricken Tesla
Roadster abandoned in the corner of the supercar collection you
can read about in this magazine. Bahrain would appear to be
embracing the electric car with all the enthusiasm of Melania
Trump on date night.
Shame, because with a global population tipped to reach
almost 10 billion by 2050, and our hunger for energy growing all
the time, now is the time to turn the tanker around and start
PORSCHE PANAMERA
TURBO S E-HYBRID
Price: R2 931 000
Engine: 3996cc twin-turbo
V8 + single electric motor,
500kW, 850Nm
Transmission: 8spd
dual-clutch auto, AWD
Performance: 0–100km/h
in 3.4secs, 310km/h
EV range: 50 kilometres
Weight: 2385kg
cutting back on the black stuff while it’s still a choice, not a
panic-stricken necessity. The good news is that so long as
Porsche and its pals stay fully engaged in the industry
metamorphosis, the electric and electrically boosted cars of
tomorrow are going to be special enough to keep enthusiasts
engaged, and capable enough to keep the general public moving.
Just remember, as you untangle a mess of cables or glance
anxiously at an indicated ten kilometre range, it’s all for the
greater good. To preserve the combustion engines we love, we
need to wean ourselves off the liquid that propels them.
The big lesson, then: sip, don’t guzzle; ration, don’t gorge.
Bahrain even has a national monument to show us the way. We
stop by the Tree of Life to pay our respects – a 400- year old
miracle, fresh and flourishing in the middle of the desert,
surrounded by nothing, no greenery, only derricks slavishly
dragging black treasure to the surface. They say its roots reach
50 metres deep and drink gently from an underground well; they
also say it’s learned to extract moisture from grains of sand, so
‘they’ can’t be trusted. All I know is that the earth beneath our
feet has a finite supply of miracles – let’s save some for later.
 For one weekend a year, a dusty
Australian town raises a boot to the
ute. Warning: may contain mankinis
WO R D S & P H OTO G R A P H Y R OWA N H O R N C A S T L E
BACKIN1933, A FARMER’S
WIFE FROM GIPPSLAND,

Deni Ute Muster

AUSTRALIA , WROTE TO
THE HEAD OF THE FORD
MOTOR COMPANY’S
OUTPOST IN MELBOURNE
WITH A QUANDARY.
“My husband and I can’t afford a car and a truck,” she said, “so can you build
a vehicle that we can use to go to church on Sunday and that my husband can
use to take the pigs to market on Monday?”
Amazingly, in an act of consumer responsiveness reserved these days
following a public PR disaster or shouty tweet, Ford Australia agreed. The firm
gathered its brainiest brains in a room and had a long, hard think. After a bit
more thinking, a lightbulb moment: why not mash the benefits of a car with the
practicality of a truck? They called it… the utility vehicle. Or ute, for short.
Fundamentally, its ethos was the opposite of a mullet: party in the front,
business at the back. Yet it was a concept that proved to be very popular with
people with haircuts that were the other way around.
Utes started flying out of the showrooms. So much so, that now one in five
cars sold in Australia is a ute. And just like Vegemite and swearing, they’re now
part of the cultural fabric. Actually, it goes further than that. The adoration for
the iconic tradies’ wagon of choice has reached religious status. And for one
weekend, I’m in ute Mecca.
To get there, go west from Sydney – over the lush rolling hills, past the
15-metre-tall concrete ram at Goulburn and continue into a horizon that’s so
dry it’s flooded with a glassy mirage. Done that? You’re about halfway there.
Keep driving until your windscreen is wearing a five o’clock shadow of flies, past
eight or so hours of turgid ready-to-pop possum and kangaroo road kill, and
then, out of the orange nothingness, a ute – hanging from a 30ft pole – will
spear out of the ground. “Deniliquin, Ute capital of the world” the plaque under
it reads. You have arrived.
For 362 days of the year, Deniliquin is a quiet farm town. But for one
weekend, the town’s population nearly triples, as 20,000 people drive (some
fifty hours from the other side of Australia) to make the annual pilgrimage to
the Deni Ute Muster. To outsiders and the scathing press, it’s a primitive and
near-Neanderthalic bush party in an arid part of nowhere Australia. But to the
attendees, it’s a time to celebrate country life and all things Australian: loosen
up, watch rodeos, listen to country music, crack some whips, chainsaw some
wood, make diesel-fuelled fires and amend their chemical balance via copious
amounts of alcohol. But, most importantly, bow at the altar of ute.
It’s also one hell of a party. But I, a quasi-posho media type from West
London, am a pariah. One dispatched to learn the ethnographic ways of plaid
and car-shaped pickups… but my immersion has not got off to a good start. First
of all, I did not get the uniform memo. Cowboy boots, jeans and an Akubra hat

FEBRUARY 2019 79
1

3
 Deni Ute Muster
“This, mate? Fastest thing
here. I call it the Tentley
Continental”

are a must, while mirrored wraparound ‘speed dealer’ shades,

a blue ‘singlet’ vest (Deni actually holds the world record
– certified by Guinness – for the most blue singlets worn at
the same time) and mullets are optional but encouraged.
Owning none of these, I stick out like a cybergoth at a school
disco.
But having negotiated the entrance and a demonic clown
(plus two middle-aged men pogoing in kangaroo costumes), I
enter the ‘ute paddock’ gingerly. It’s infamous for being the
rowdiest, basest campsite of the festival. Possibly on earth.
Imagine the mentality of District 9 on the set of Mad Max
with Borat’s costume department, and you’re sort of there. It’s
a sprawling refugee camp from a near-future drunken tragedy.
One where engines constantly ring out on the red line, whips
crack and chants bellow as people down whatever alcohol they
can get their hands on, out of anything they can get their
hands on. The air is thick, clogged with smoke and diesel
fumes as seemingly endless lines of utes are side-saddled by
anorexic khaki tents more akin to flammable disposable
coffins. The mood is wild and electric, teetering on the edge of
chaos while occasionally dipping its toe in the waters of
mayhem. But, by Jove, it’s exciting and stimulating for the
senses.
With more mankinis and blow-up dolls than a Magaluf stag
do, there’s plenty to make your eyes widen. Yet it’s the cars
that are the real draw. To us South Africans, utes are
completely alien and bizarre. Aside from the rare Chevrolet
Lumina Ute, they simply don’t exist on our roads. Their
two-seat, big-motor-up-front, big-space-out-back philosophy
actually makes complete sense – it’s solid solution
engineering. And being low, long and with hefty V8s under the
bonnet, their proportions are bloody fantastic – especially
when garnished with a catalogue of modifications.
Everywhere I go, folk parade their wares to me; constantly
heckling to take pictures of their pride and joy. If I don’t, they
barrage me with abuse about my sunburn. And there are many
ways that you can outwardly express your interests and
identity via a ute; furnish it with a flag, for instance (actually, Equipped with carbon-
make that six flags), a custom number plate, a variety of ceramic brakes, Daisy’s
stopping force was
stickers, a honking great bull bar or, like most here, all of impressive
those things at once.
Unfamiliar with the lexicon of Planet Ute, I enlist the help
of Simon Thompson, a six-foot-something defensive bat
against the locals’ banter and a handy translator. He’s a Deni
veteran. His parents formed part of the initial community that
set up the event to try and entice people to the area and give
the local economy a lift 20 years ago. He’s been to every single
one; having partied his way through his youth, he now exudes
power within the paddock.
“It’s harmless,” he says through his beaming smile.
“They’re just kids having a good time. Some are probably
mine… whether I know it or not.”

1. They sure hold the ute

in high regard over here
2. Apparently, there’s a
giant hole in the ozone
layer above Australia.
This guy probably has
something to do with that
3. Mankinis and mullets:
this year’s must-have look

FEBRUARY 2019 81
 Deni Ute Muster

Try as he might, Shane

just couldn’t outrun the
swarm of killer flags

“IMAGINE THE MENTALITY OF

DISTRICT 9 ON THE SET OF
MAD MAX WITH BORAT ’S
Simon shows me around, acting as a
beer-swigging encyclopaedia to identify

COSTUMES”
the thousands of utes to my untrained
eye. He rattles off models and specs
simply from hearing their straight pipes
scream, like some sort of ute Shazam.
“That’s not proper,” he says wagging
his finger at a jacked-up Nissan Patrol
splurting a V of acrid diesel from its exhaust stacks. “I Before I can even fire up Urban Dictionary to try and
remember when this place used to be full of ‘proper’ utes.” translate his words into English, he takes off his cowboy
See, the demise of car manufacturing in Oz brought the boot, fills it with beer and toasts the golden sunset. “That
death of the ute as we know it – so the younger generations ute is flasher than a rat with a gold tooth,” he says before
are forced to arrive in aesthetically modern and culturally seeing off a size 11 worth of Victoria Bitter and returning
ersatz trucks. But it also means the old cars are celebrated to a catatonic state.
more than ever. The main event for the utes is the annual Circlework
“Fair bloody dinkum, mate!” a dusty, dreadlocked and Championships. Think of it as an agricultural automotive
drunken zombie land crab shouts. “Check out the sooters Olympics that comprises three driving disciplines: Barrel
on that!” he says as he points to a rusty Holden Kingswood. Racing, Go to Wo and Circlework. Each year, the nation’s

82 FEBRUARY 2019
What happens
at a ute muster
in Australia Hooning Partying Music Rodeo

DRIVING EVENTS AT A MUSTERING MUSTERING

It’s not just copious alcohol and burnouts. There’s motorsport... GLOSSARY
If you ever venture out to
Deniliquin, you’ll need to
swot up on some of the
local lingo

Woop Woop (n.)

A very isolated town
or place

Sooters (n.)
Exhaust pipes

That shits me
That makes me very
upset and/or angry

Fair dinkum (adj.)

On the level

Crooked as a dog’s hind leg

Not all that straight. Used

BARREL RACE to describe a corrupt

person
A two-car shootout against the clock, testing car control and the
ability to twirl around three barrels. Leaving the start box, you must Yarn (v.)
Talk
navigate around three barrels in a designated order – right-hand
barrel, left-hand barrel, top barrel – before returning to the box
Got a head like a smashed crab
where you started. Doing so correctly you should leave an outline This unfortunate soul
not too dissimilar to a childish doodle of a penis. Penalties are is very ugly

added for hitting a barrel or under/over-shooting the final box.

Nutty as a fruitcake
Not over-furnished upstairs

Chuck a u-ey
Perform a U-turn

Have a burl / give it a burl

Have a go

Hit the turps

Have a solid evening’s
drinking. Or morning’s...

Drongo (n.)
GO-TO-WO CIRCLE WORK Particularly dumb
or foolish person
Think of this as a bit like In most forms of motorsport you
car curling: two cars go require precision, delta times Bogan (n.)
head-to-head accelerating and an abundance of skill. Not Particularly uncouth
from one box as fast as here. You’ve got sixty seconds person with a broad
Australian accent. Wears
possible before hitting the to freestyle in a defined area trackie-daks
anchors and stopping in and cause as much carnage as and thongs

another box. Closest one to possible. Points are awarded

Trackie-daks (n.)
the flag in the shortest time for driving skills, number and
Tracksuit trousers
wins. Sounds simple. But on execution of circles (donuts)
loose dirt, it’s not as easy and figure of eights. Noise and Thongs (n.)
Flip-flops
as it looks smoke also help.

FEBRUARY 2019 83
 “I’VE SEEN A
MAN WEAR
A SUICIDE
BELT OF
BEERS AND
ENDLESSLY
CRACK A
WHIP”

84 FEBRUARY 2019
 1. You know the rules: if the van’s rockin’, don’t
come knockin’ 2. Can you hear that? It’s PETA’s
head office going into meltdown

top drivers congregate to compete in the hope of being crowned

king or queen. To do so requires a complete disregard for
mechanical sympathy and a healthy appetite for dust.
“I just don’t want to look like a goose,” Bradley from
Bordertown says to me nervously as he’s breathalysed before his
final run. With cattle tags hanging like agri-epaulettes from the
rim of his hat, he grips the wheel and narrows his gaze. “CLEAR
PROP!!!” he screams as he fires up his 5.7-litre V8 and pins it to
the red line. He doesn’t back off for the next 60 seconds,
pirouetting around the arena in front of thousands of spectators
as his flags whip through the air and tyres send mud into the
stratosphere all to the sound – I kid you not – of Men at Work’s
‘Down Under’.
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to beat Reece Haggerty, who
takes home the glory in his controversial V6 Commodore. See, out
here the V8 still reigns supreme. But the crowd went wild as he
managed to set wet dirt – a substance not normally known for its
flammable qualities – alight through dogged determination to
blow the rubber off his rims with the mother of all burnouts.
Heading back to camp, I’m welcomed back to the infamous
1
party pit with quite the Australian handshake: a clavicle-crushing
rugby tackle to the floor from a man built like a D battery. It’s my
bad, though. Befuddled with jetlag, I walk directly into the path of
two men running in opposite directions but tethered together by
an industrial crane strap wrapped around their waists. As they
sprint for opposing horizons, they hit the inevitable point of
tension and come to a very rapid stop as their organs contemplate
bursting. Well, they would have had if I hadn’t got in the way.
Why? There is no reason – it’s just dumb fun.
This proves to be a running theme of Deni. Booze is obviously
a major benefactor in the entertainment but there’s no barrier to
entry or prejudice. Women have a go at rupturing a spleen. People
in wheelchairs have a go. It’s raw joie de vivre and obviously
infectious. It’s also doing its bit to add community and bring
people together. Australia is a big place, and it gets lonely in the
arid farmlands. Farmers are among those at highest risk of suicide
in Australia – taking their own lives at twice the rate of those in
urban areas. And, as stupid as it sounds, if wrapping a crane strap 2
around your waist and running in the opposite direction of a mate
in order to test Newton’s Third Law counters that, it’s only a good
thing.
See, you’d come to this part of the world expecting total
nothingness, but for one weekend you get palpable weirdness,
utter enthusiasm and a healthy dose of good times. I’ve seen
things that I would have never, ever seen had it not been my job to
stay sober enough to remember them. I’ve seen community, I’ve
seen a form of motorsport I never knew existed, I’ve seen a man
that looks like Action Bronson wear a suicide belt of beers and
endlessly crack a whip. And it was all because of one thing: the
ute. If it weren’t for the ute, I wouldn’t have seen any of it. More
specifically, I wouldn’t have seen any of it if it weren’t for that
letter from the farmer’s wife. So pour out a drink and raise a glass/
shoe to her, would you?
86 FEBRUARY 2019
 Supercar stash

Stamps,
porcelain
dogs,
supercars...
people will
collect
anything
these days
WO R D S JAC K R I X /
P H OTO G R A P H Y
M A R K R I CC I O N I

87
FEBRUARY 2019
Supercar stash

After weeks of chasing and being passed from one

contact to another, we’ve been given the all clear to visit
the biggest private supercar collection in Bahrain. First,
we’re given a general area to head to, a short drive from
the capital, Manama, then told to wait for a dropped pin
detailing the exact location. We’re eating a burger when
the message comes through… I half expect it to
self destruct after reading.
I can understand the owner’s caution. If you had R2
billion worth of unicorns stashed in your garage you
would be, too. We’re not even allowed to mention his
name, which is curious given you can follow him on
Instagram @the_collection1. Still, his cars, his rules.
I’m just happy to be here, and can’t stop grinning like a
kid with the keys to Cadbury’s World.
There’s construction work going on (a garage
extension, naturally, to house the ever swelling ranks)
hence dustsheets on half the cars, but to be honest, it
only heightens the anticipation: a silhouetted wing here,
a flash of rim there, I find myself pointing and guessing,
breathlessly. Then I turn right into the main atrium, the
prize paddock with double height ceilings and his 14
favourites parked cheek by jowl, and my stomach does a
back flip.

88 FEBRUARY 2019
1 Porsche 911 2.7 RS – you just knew
he’d have one of these. Box ticked,
move on 2 McLaren Senna – The
newest arrival, finished in matt purple
exposed carbon fibre... works better
than it should. And yes, he has a
Speedtail on order 3 Lamborghini
Countach LP400 – no wings or arches
to corrupt the wedge. Purest and still
the best 4 Ferrari 288 GTO – in 1984,
there was no ABS, traction control, or
four-wheel drive. Now, this purity
has a grail-like quality to it
Supercar stash

1 Ferrari LaFerrari – 6.3-litre V12, hybrid assistance, 710kW...

five years on, it still has the power to make a grown man dribble
2 911 GT1 Strassenversion – the jewel in the crown, one of only two with
993-style headlights: 400kW, 0–100kph in 3.9secs, 307kph
3 Bugatti Chiron – is this the perfect-spec Chiron? I think so. Delivered a
few months ago, still smells box fresh 4 Saleen S7 – the one that started
it all, the first to arrive... should probably be the first to go

I walk the line, emotions a mess something between

extreme jealousy and pure joy. At the end perched on a turntable,
his baby, a McLaren F1, chassis number six, bought from a
Japanese collector who had three. Next to it a P1, also number
six, then a chronological history of Ferrari hypercars: LaFerrari,
Enzo, F50, F40, 288 GTO and a 599 GTO for good measure.
Opposite is the really special stuff. A Porsche 918 Spyder then
a 911 GT1 Strassenversion (one of only two in existence, he was
recently offered R380 million) and next to that, another
homologation special from the same FIA GT Championship the
Mercedes AMG CLK GTR. The Maserati MC12 is definitely
better than the Enzo on which it’s based, I decide, before
drinking in his brand new Chiron and the Hermès edition
Veyron next to that. Not bad, and that’s barely half of it.
Wondering how or when Mr X gets to drive this obscene
group of cars? Let’s just say having an F1 track ten minutes down
the road and enough cash to use it as your own private
playground when the feeling takes you, helps.
So, hats off to you, exceedingly rich Bahraini man whose
name I cannot mention it’s quite the armada you’ve assembled
here. Toss the Mansory, and there’s not a turkey among them.

90 FEBRUARY 2019
5 Bugatti Veyron – a ‘standard’ 736kW
coupe, but the Hermès edition for added
bling 6 Toyota 2000GT – originally built
in collaboration with Yamaha, now
incredibly rare and incredibly expensive.
Photographer Riccioni had to lie down
after seeing this one... he has a thing
for Japanese 7 Ferrari 599 GTO – one
of only three models to ever bear the
GTO badge... this one’s signed by
Alonso and Massa 8 McLaren F1 –
chassis number 006, originally silver,
only one in the world with its engine
painted fluoro orange 9 Mercedes-
McLaren SLR Mansory – we all make
mistakes 10 Lamborghini Reventón
– number 1 of only 20, hat tip to the
commando green seats

91
FEBRUARY 2019
 RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

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INCLUDES PORSCHE 911 RGT RALLY SPEC, FIAT 131 ABARTH RALLY, ALPINE RENAULT A110 1600 S

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 TopGear’s monthly wheels tested & verified in the real world

094
MINI Countryman D

095 Renault Megane R.S. 096 Honda HRV. 097 Opel Grandland X
au revoir old friend but still in TG’s care Francisco meets his new love but it’s not the car Relatively new kid on the block, reviewed by kids

FEBRUARY 2019 93
 FEBRUARY I 2019

MINI
Airbnb
MINI Countryman D
R R506 200
LANCE BRANQUINHO

hey say location is everything and What are the debits? If you want to

T that’s why you pay crazy money for

a small bit of the most desirable
real estate. For the rest of us,
waking next to the ocean (hearing the waves)
or deep in the bushveld (hearing wild animals
doing whatever wild animals do), is a nearly
unobtainable experience.
“But what if you camped?” That’s never
really an option, if you like cars, because towing
a caravan is the worst thing you could ever do
with a car. “But what if you could sleep in a tent
on top of your car?” Okay, that sounds a lot
more plausible for the average petrolhead.
MINI is not the brand you’d immediately
associate with #rooftentlife, but to showcase
just how much of an authentic adventure vehicle
its Countryman SUV can be, they loaned me
one with accommodation on top. If you’ve ever
been on safari with people who are only happy
when their vehicles are in low-range, you’d know
that roof tents are awful.
They are claustrophobic and smell of awful
military-grade canvas. But not the
Countryman’s Autohome roof tent. Built by
those inspired architects – the Italians – this
Well, it weighs 53kg and
you are adding all those
experience exotic
bushveld living or
kilograms to the worst beachfront Airbnb’ing at
possible pendulum campsite rates, without
point of any vehicle: its the toil of towing a
roof. There’s a reason that Jurgens, MINI’s Autohome
performance cars have a equipped Countryman is
carbon-fibre roof option, #vanlife without sacrificing
because any mass you can save at driver appeal. There’s only one
the highest point of a vehicle’s structure, issue: this is the only Countryman in Mzansi
will make it a lot more agile and stable when which has one – and it’s not a locally available
changing direction. option through MINI’s dealer network. Pity.
Beyond the potential of those 53kg blunting
the Countryman’s turn-in agility a touch, the
only bother is a bit of wind noise to contend
with. The benefits, though, are substantial.
It’s laughably easy to set-up. The frustration
of guiding poles, and bending crucial
components, are eased by four gas-structs
which pop the Autohome tent into place with
flawless alignment, once you have released
three simple latches. That’s it. You’d swear it
was designed by Germans, not Italians.
SPECIFICATION
1995cc, 4cyl turbo diesel, FWD, 110kW, 330Nm
Where the Italian influence is clear is in its
fabric and ergonomics. There’s a mattress which 4.8l/100km, 123g/km CO2

Autohome tent is mighty clever. Not perfect, but
its compromises are nowhere near that of
towing a caravan or trying to deal with a
conventional safari-style rooftop tent.
is comfier than any glamping bed, pillows,
touch-sensitive LEDs and even power points.
Best of all, its waterproof and doesn’t smell like
a surplus military store’s canvas inventory.
0-100km/h in 9.6secs, 200km/h
1563kg
TESTER’S NOTES: BMW’s British brand teases the
possibility of a MINI at home - literally – everywhere.

94 FEBRUARY 2019
Don’t go
with the flow
Renault Megane R.S. 280 CUP
R R549 900 OTR / R559 088 (as tested)
ANDREW LEOPOLD
y last month with our Megane R.S
M Cup. Though the car is due to leave
the revolving TopGear garage in
April, I’ll be handing it over to the
rest of the team where I’m sure that new 5-door
practicality will meld easily with Avon’s family
life, the 6-speed manual gearbox will
undoubtedly thrill our youngest member of the
team while the oldest might get a little
misty eyed about earlier versions –
even I did at times. But that’s
the story for them to tell.
I remember driving the
facelifted Golf R around
this time last year and
thinking there’s not a
more boring fast hatch
on the market. But the
Megane R.S Cup, well
that’s like Netflix’s latest
Bandersnatch movie – a
choose your own ending. Be the
hero, be the villain. Stay cool or go on
the rampage. Just make your own story whereas
the Golf never deviated from the script.
But the Megane isn’t ready to be honoured as
the segment’s best, not if intuitive ergonomics
are high on your appreciation list. I’ll cite one
example; the phonebook’s keypad disappears
from view as soon as you enter the first letter
which is fine if you happen to be calling the AA or hot hatch conundrum from new angles, happily
BA (so forth) but an incident of distraction
occurs if the second letter of the name is far
throwing a spanner into the cogs of conventional
thinking. Some things however are unforgivable
down the alphabet – in which case you’re likely to and unintuitive ergonomics around the
be calling AA recovery from the accident you’ve touchscreen is one of them.
just had. Our gripes continue with the Yet measure a car by the amount it will be
touchscreen’s poor choice of colours and diluted missed and with my arms figuratively
vibrancy while those used to an interface built outstretched fingertips to fingertips I say, ‘by this
around multi-tab windows will detest the much’. It doesn’t always get it right but you end
arduous backpedalling through up savouring those moments when it does far
menus. more intently than you do in another hot hatch.
Now it would be a Over to you Francisco Nwamba, your wild ride is
youthful myopic view of up next.
the front wheel drive
turbo hatch if I claimed
these bells and whistles
were incongruous to the
very focussed purpose of
a hot hatch. Rather than
saying can’t keep up with
modern times, the overall
presentation and execution is not
as polished as it needs to be in this
hallowed company. To be fair, R-Link never has
SPECIFICATION
1798cc, 4cyl turbo petrol, FWD, 205kW, 390Nm
been.
I came into this test knowing it would be 7.2l/100km, 163g/km CO2
polarising. Renault’s edgiest hatch has not 0-100km/h in 5.8secs, 255km/h
rehearsed all the answers but rather demands 1429kg
that you pose the right questions. A car which
desists comparisons because it approaches the TESTER’S NOTES: Old school and new school.
Sometimes primary school.
FEBRUARY 2019 95
 FEBRUARY I 2019
My Valentine
Honda HRV 1.8 Elegance CVT
R R419 900
FRANCISCO NWAMBA
kay take some truth serum, the
O Honda HRV doesn’t exactly
scream excitement, does it? If we
wanted this much boredom from a
car we’d call an Uber.
December-January is car malarkey. Fleets
close early and open late, probing a chin-
scratching question in the life of a journalist –
what car does my life actually need?
Last year I drove an updated Golf R, a car I
learned can do 7.1l/100km with five people on a
long drive – something you wouldn’t anticipate
from a hot hatch with the capability of a sports
car. This time though, performance was not on
my priority list as I had other people to consider,
namely a girlfriend. Yes, gone are my single days
– fewer mountain bikes in my upcoming
monthly reports to the relief of the team who’d
often discover a sweaty vest curled up under the
seat.
So the HRV realised a fitting metaphor for
the maturation of my life with enough space for
a civilised long weekend away with friends while
answering questions such as, “will the cooler
box fit?”, “will the camp chairs fit?” and “will
the tog bags fit?” How circumstances have
changed in my world, for the better of course.
Regarding HRV’s practicality I’m happy to
report that the 393 litre boot space swallowed
up all the things needed to make a weekend
96 FEBRUARY 2019
getaway possible, for the
most part. My only
concern was the fact that we
didn’t have Type R
performance on our side, especially
since the kitchen sink now lived in the luggage
compartment as well. Surprisingly despite
negotiating with only 105kW, 172Nm we never
battled too much for power in the 1.8 Elegance
model, even though every dab of the throttle is
amplified to your entire audience of four people
because of the continuously variable gearbox –
or crap for short.
Only when you’re playing music and
chatting, do you forget that this naturally
aspirated car sounds like it’s putting a noose
around its neck. When you do drown the noise
out, you can focus on the comfort levels of the
car, which are good. Your bottom doesn’t go
numb after a few hours in the car and should
you be in a colder climate, you can warm the
buns with the heated seats – something
superfluous in December. Ergonomically the car
makes sense too with many buttons to touch at
close range, although the piano black panels on
the dashboard do attract a great deal of dust
very quickly.
En route to holiday destinations needed a
few unscheduled fuel stops as consumption of
10l/100km in the city and 8l/100km on a long
stretch seemed to point a
condemning finger at the
gearbox. As a result, the fuel
gauge does deplete quickly but
being just 50 litres, you can get on
your way again with half a tank for R250.
So, what was the verdict after weeks of
driving the Honda HRV? As offensive as the
gearbox is, the rest of the package is quite the
contrary. It offers space, decent looks and a
solid build quality for you to go about your daily
affairs while slowly numbing you to sleep. It’s a
box ticker, equivalent of a lock up and go
apartment. Not fancy, but it works.
SPECIFICATION
1799cc, 4cyl petrol, FWD, 105kW, 172Nm
6.8l/100km, 162g/km CO2
0-100km/h in 10.1secs, 188km/h
1274kg
TESTER’S NOTES: The EV revolution can’t come
quick enough for Honda.
Bonjour Opel
Opel Grandland X 1.6T Enjoy
R R478 950
AVON MIDDLETON
here are two kinds of people in this
T world. Car-people - and then
everyone else. I’m a car-person
obviously and try as I may not to
influence in this direction, my three little people
can add that nomenclature to their character
traits. Even my two-year old has expressed
strong and surprisingly mature opinions of the
cars which dad brings home. Every time that
garage door groans open, my young jury runs out
to proffer their opinions. There’s visible
disappointment when nothing has changed, but
every now and again of course, a new test car
appears and is greeted with loud excitable cheers.
The novelty of it is what excites them most and
then the inspection starts.
It was a lukewarm reception for the Opel
Grandland X – not as loud, not as surefooted,
slightly apprehensive as to how they felt about it.
But it grew on them significantly, and that’s very
much the summary for me too.
There was a period almost two years ago,
when Opel’s future both on an international
(Vauxhall) and local level was uncertain. GM’s
exit from South Africa didn’t garner any positive
sentiment from the local industry, but PSA’s
tak-over of the company at least gave the brand a
new course. We’re promised a flurry of new
Opels this year to fill their existing 35
dealerships.
The Grandland X then, was a welcome
introduction to the Opel range, topping it off as
the flagship, largest SUV in the line-up. The
release has proved to be the right thing to do as it
sells more than the Mokka X and is consistently
on par with the smaller Crossland X.
Design is understated to say the least, larger
than what we’re used to from Opel but it’s
certainly not eye-catching or distinctive. It is in
fact quite bland to the eye, and doesn’t cast any
sort of bold form from any angle. It’s based
largely on the Peugeot 3008, but where Peugeot
has made use of many shiny bits and tech-
inspired design, the Opel has adopted a more
mature approach. There’s no spontaneous
chemistry but start the inspection, examine
more closely and you’ll start to see the makings
of what is quite an exceptional car. Perceived
build quality is excellent, as is the design and
ergonomics of it all. From heated and cooled
front seats, lane-departure warning, tyre-
pressure monitoring and Apple CarPlay, the
Grandland X is also specified admirably,
irrespective of the model you choose.
The Grandland X is powered by the
well-known 1.6T from Peugeot that delivers an
effortless 121kW and 240Nm. It’s a well matched
motor to a six-speed auto transmission and at no
point does the car feel underpowered, a trait
suffered by a few rivals who have downsized a
step too far to proclaim
record efficiency. In this
area too, the Grandland X delivers
a fair balance between frugality and power,
where needed. For a family, it’s comfortable and
spacious. Our only concern and frustration was
the very fixed seat belt fasteners that made the
arduous task of clipping car seats in, more
difficult. With a quoted 514 litre boot capacity, it
isn’t class-leading but it is a higher loading
capacity than others and that counts for loading
small kids’ bikes into the back which we did on a
few occasions.
We weren’t quite sold on the Opel Grandland
X at first, but mainly because we’re all, car people
or not, moved by what we see. But after a few
weeks with it, it’s turned out to be an honest,
comfortable, practical vehicle with excellent
all-round credentials. The kids loved it too. For
peace of mind – this is the one. For a mobile
fashion accessory – probably not.
SPECIFICATION
1598cc, 4cyl turbo petrol, FWD, 121kW, 240Nm
7.0l/100km, 156g/km CO2
0-100km/h in 11.0 secs, 197km/h
1382kg
TESTER’S NOTES: If you think with your eyes, maybe
look at a two-tone-roofed Cosmo or something else. If not,
thumbs up from me.
FEBRUARY 2019 97
 LAST UPDATED ON 21 JANUARY 2019

TG SPEAKS
Our verdict on the brand

SOME WORDS...
...about the car. These may or may not
find favour with you.

FUEL ECONOMY
Less is, um, more. Same applies to
0-100km/h, too.

MODEL CHOICE
You won’t find every car here. Just the ones
that count.

BMW Z4 Pg 100
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
BMW Z4 M40i R1036699 250 500 4,5 250 7,4 169 7/10

Subaru Forester Pg 108

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Subaru Forester 2.0i ES R469000 115 196 10,3 n/a 7,6 176 6/10
 DB11 Q5 / SQ5
ABARTH Twin-turbochared engine powers the most
revolutionary Aston since DB9 in 2003.
6LWVRQVDPHFXVKLRQHGSODWIRUPDV$WREHDOOQHZZLWKRXW
toying unnecessarily with the basics.
TopGear on Abarth: The Bond car company is modernising.
Oddly Austrian in origin, the original hot hatch brand
nd was conveniently
forgotten by Fiat in favour of Alfa Romeo. Not anymore. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
V8 coupé *4 000 000 375 675 4.0 300 9.9 230 9/10 7',TXDWWUR 704 000 140 400 7.9 218 5.7 138 8/10
500 595 V8 Volante *4 250 000 375 675 4.0 300 9.9 230 8/10 7)6,TXDWWUR 754 000 185 370 6.3 237 6.8 154 8/10
Comparatively senseless. But when a car’s this V12 coupé *4 200 000 447 700 3.9 322 11.4 265 8/10 64TXDWWUR 1 053 000 260 500 5.4 250 8.3 189 9/10
pretty, light and engaging, you just want one. * indicative pricing

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING DBS Superleggera Q7

7KH'%6LVEDFNWKLVWLPHZLWKDQ,WDOLDQVXI¿[ About time too. New Q7 smaller on the outside,
500 595 1.4T 327 900 107 206 7.8 210 6.0 139 5/10 ELJJHUZKHUHLWPDWWHUV0DUJLQDOO\OHVVRIIHQVLYH
500 595 1.4T auto 353 200 107 206 8.0 210 5.8 134 5/10 )UDQNO\DEVXUGVKRYHLVPDWFKHGE\EHWWHUG\QDPLFV
too. Maybe.
500C 595 1.4T 368 900 107 206 7.8 210 6.0 139 5/10
500C 595 1.4T auto 394 200 107 206 8.0 210 5.8 134 5/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
500 595 turismo 1.4T 398 900 121 230 7.3 218 6.0 139 5/10 DBS Superleggera POA 534 900 3.4 340 12.4 285 8/10 7',TXDWWUR 1 094 000 183 600 6.9 225 6.3 164 8/10
500 595 turismo 1.4T auto 424 200 121 230 7.4 218 5.8 134 6/10
500C 595 turismo 1.4T 438 900 121 230 7.3 218 6.0 139 6/10
500C 595 turismo 1.4T auto 464 200 121 230 7.4 218 5.8 134 6/10
QRPDQXDORQO\DIDLQWUHVW\OH"+DV$XGL
500 595 competizione 1.4T
500 595 competizione 1.4T auto
472 900
498 200
132
132
250
250
6.7
6.9
225
225
6.0
5.8
139
134
8/10
7/10 AUDI HGDGLI¿FXOWVHFRQGDOEXPFKDUJHU"
, not at all.
500C 595 competizione 1.4T 512 900 132 250 6.7 225 6.0 139 6/10
500C 595 competizione 1.4T auto 538 200 132 250 6.9 225 5.8 134 6/10 TopGear on Audi: PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Bauhaus styling influence makes its cars appear a t S\GHUTXDWWUR 3 047 000 397 540 3.6 318 11.7 277 9/10
the cabins are flawless. R8 symbolic of Ingolstadt’s ascendance. 9 SOXVTXDWWUR 3 240 000 449 560 3.2 330 12.3 287 8/10

124 spider Q2
More expensive than the MX-5 but turbo engine )DVKLRQDEOHEXWSULFH\IRUFUDPSHGTXDUWHUVDQGWRUVLRQ
beam rear suspension.
exploits brilliant chassis
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING BAIC
7)6, 461 000 85 200 10.5 194 5.1 117 7/10
spider 605 900 125 250 6.8 232 6.4 148 6/10
7)6,VSRUW 538 000 110 250 8.5 212 5.2 119 7/10
D20
spider turismo 655 900 125 250 6.8 232 6.4 148 6/10 Major SA investment in local production and dealer network
gives this Chinese brand a positive start. ABS and airbags
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A3 / S3 / RS3
New A3 is here. Old looks, but new bits underneath. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

ALFA ROMEO Now more polished than ever. KDWFK&RPIRUW

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149 990
169 990
75
85
128
148
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n/a
n/a
n/a
6.7
6.8
156
158
5/10
5/10
TopGear on Alfa Romeo: PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
KDWFK)DVKLRQ 179 990 85 148 n/a n/a 6.8 158 5/10
Gorgeous styling cloaks average mechanical bits. Petrolhead creden- 6SRUWEDFN7)6, 432 000 85 200 9.9 206 4.6 106 7/10 KDWFK)DVKLRQDXWR 189 990 85 148 n/a n/a 7.6 176 5/10
tials invalidated if you haven’t owned one once. 4C rather special. 6SRUWEDFN7)6, 456 000 110 250 8.2 220 4.9 113 7/10 VHGDQ)DVKLRQDXWR 209 990 85 148 n/a n/a 7.6 176 5/10
6SRUWEDFN7)6, 475 500 140 320 6.8 244 5.7 128 7/10
Giulietta VHGDQ7)6, 442 000 85 200 9.9 211 4.5 105 7/10
0RUHÀDZHG\HWWHPSWLQJVWXIIIURP)LDW¶V7DVWH
VHGDQ7)6, 466 000 110 250 8.2 224 4.8 111 6/10
X25
WKH'LIIHUHQFHUDQJH,W¶VQR*ROIZKLFKLVZK\\RX European styling overtones melded with sensible proportions.
want it, and also why you don’t. VHGDQ7)6, 485 500 140 320 6.8 250 5.6 126 8/10 1HZFRPHULVH[SDQGLQJLQWRWKHPDUNHWLI\RX¶UHZLOOLQJWR
FDEULROHW7)6, 588 000 140 320 7.2 250 5.9 134 7/10 deviate on brand loyalty.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 66SRUWEDFNTXDWWUR 651 500 228 400 4.6 250 6.5 149 7/10
1.4TB 363 900 88 215 9.4 195 6.1 144 5/10 6VHGDQTXDWWUR 662 000 228 400 4.6 250 6.4 148 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4TB Super 406 900 88 215 9.4 195 6.1 144 5/10 6FDEULROHWTXDWWUR 764 500 228 400 5.1 250 6.7 153 7/10 &RPIRUW 219 990 85 148 n/a n/a 6.5 151 5/10
1.4TB Super auto 456 900 125 250 7.7 218 4.9 114 5/10 566SRUWEDFNTXDWWUR 903 500 294 480 4.1 250 8.3 189 9/10 &RPIRUWDXWR 239 990 85 148 n/a n/a 7.2 169 6/10
1750TBi Veloce 521 900 170 340 6.0 244 6.8 157 6/10 56VHGDQTXDWWUR 933 500 294 480 4.1 250 8.3 188 9/10 )DVKLRQ 229 990 85 148 n/a n/a 6.5 151 6/10
 )DVKLRQ DXWR 249 990 85 148 n/a n/a 7.2 169 6/10

Giulia Q3 / RS Q3
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)ODLU¿QGVVXEVWDQFHEXWHQJLQHUDQJHVWLOOOLPLWHG
This is the car Audi says rivals the Range Rover
(YRTXH2KGHDU$KLJKULVH*ROIZLWKDQLQIHULRULW\
BENTLEY
complex. TopGear on Bentley:
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
VW’s British luxury division is the choice of nouveau riche types.
2.0T 616 900 147 330 6.6 235 5.9 138 7/10 Unfortunately. Impeccably built but not the last word in good taste.
7)6, 516 500 110 250 8.9 204 5.8 138 6/10
2.0T Super
4XDGULIRJOLR9HUGH
686 900 147 330
1 426 000 375 600
6.6 235 5.9 138 7/10
3.9 307 8.2 189 8/10
2.0TDI 532 500 110 340 9.3 204 4.7 128 6/10 Continental
7',TXDWWUR 607 500 135 380 7.9 219 5.3 139 6/10 ,I\RXQHHGRQHH[DPSOHRIKRZWRLQWHJUDWHKDQGFUDIWHG
564TXDWWUR 890 000 250 450 4.8 250 8.4 198 7/10 design with lush tech, the very best GT is back.
Stelvio
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talented Giulia. No diesels - a chink in the armour, perhaps.
A4 / S4 GT W12 coupé
PRICE kW
3 395 000 467 900
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
3.7 333 12.2 278 10/10
Meet the area manager’s new A4. Just like the GT W12 convertible TBA 467 900 3.8 333 14.0 317
regional manager’s old A4. Lighter and smartly.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Quite unlike the regional manager who drives it.
2.0T Super Q4
2.0T B-Tech Q4
834 900
915 900
206
206
400
400
5.7
5.7
230
230
7.0
7.0
161 7/10
161
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING )O\LQJ6SXU    
7)6, 531 000 110 250 8.5 210 4.9 114 7/10 ,W¶VWKHIRXUGRRUVDORRQYHUVLRQRIWKH:
4XDGULIRJOLR9HUGH4 1 675 000 375 600 3.8 283 9.0 210 Continental GT. That’s it really.
4XDGULIRJOLR9HUGH45DFH 1 825 000 375 600 3.8 283 9.0 210 7)6,VSRUW 565 500 140 320 7.3 210 4.9 112 7/10
40TDI 569 000 140 400 7.7 237 4.1 107 7/10
6TXDWWUR 816 000 260 500 4.7 250 7.5 170 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
4C V8 3 622 000 373 660 5.2 295 10.9 254 7/10
$FKLQJO\JRUJHRXVXOWLPDWHO\ÀDZHGOLJKWZHLJKW V8 S 3 861 000 388 680 4.9 306 10.9 254 7/10
VSRUWVFDU$Q$OIDWKHQ TT W12 4 009 000 460 800 4.6 320 14.7 335 7/10
It won’t chase away the old stereotypes, but the
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coupé
PRICE kW
1 173 900 177 350
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
4.5 258 6.8 157 8/10
genuinely cool. Bentayga
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Bentley aims to best the Range Rover with its
Spider 1 352 900 177 350 4.5 257 6.9 161 8/10 IHDUVRPHO\TXLFNOX[XULRXVDQGH[SHQVLYH
FRXSp7)6, 595 000 132 250 7.0 241 5.7 129 7/10
%HQWD\JD689
FRXSp7)6, 634 000 169 370 6.0 250 6.3 148 8/10
776FRXSpTXDWWUR 757 000 228 380 4.6 250 6.9 159 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
7756FRXSpTXDWWUR 971 500 294 480 3.7 250 8.2 187 9/10
ASTON MARTIN
V8 2 950 000 404 770 4.5 290 11.4 260 8/10
Diesel 2 950 000 320 900 4.8 270 8.0 210 9/10
W12 3 987 000 447 900 4.1 301 13.1 296 8/10
TopGear on Aston Martin: A5 / S5 / RS5 W12 Mulliner 5 795 000 447 900 4.1 301 13.1 296 8/10
James Bond’s car company defines the term cool Britannia. Entire range is inherently sporty smooth. Planted, secure, with
An achingly beautiful range of cars which all look quite similar. XQGHUO\LQJOX[XU\H[SHULHQFH,I\RXQHHGDUHPLQGHURIFRXSH
Vantage
EOLVV$RIIHUVLWLQGURYHV$OOPRGHOVDUHLQKHUHQWO\VSRUW\ Mulsanne
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
7KHUHSODFHPHQWIRUWKH$UQDJHDQGHYHU\ELWDV
The Vantage is back, and it’s an angrier beast than ever RSXOHQWDQGEULOOLDQW,I\RXFDQLJQRUHWKHORRNV
EHIRUH+H\±LI\RXZDQWZDIWDELOLW\JHWWKH'%\HDK" FRXSp7)6, 625 500 140 320 7.3 240 5.1 117 8/10 ZKR2.¶GWKRVHKHDGOLJKWV"WKLVLVEULOOLDQW
coupé 40TDI 647 000 140 400 7.7 238 4.1 107 9/10
FRXSp7',TXDWWURVSRUW 715 000 140 400 7.2 235 4.4 114 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING FRXSp7)6,TXDWWURVSRUW 764 000 185 370 5.8 250 5.2 141 8/10 Mulsanne 6 152 000 377 1020 5.3 296 15.0 342 7/10
V8 coupé *2 900 000 375 685 3.6 314 10.5 245 8/10 6SRUWEDFN7)6, 640 500 140 320 7.5 239 5.5 126 7/10 Speed 6 739 000 395 1100 4.9 305 15.0 342 8/10
Sportback 40TDI 662 000 140 400 7.9 235 4.2 109 8/10 EWB 7 384 000 377 1020 5.5 296 15.0 344 9/10
6SRUWEDFN7',TXDWWURVSRUW 730 000 140 400 7.4 235 4.5 117 8/10
Rapide 6SRUWEDFN7)6,TXDWWURVSRUW 779 000 185 370 6.0 250 6.2 141 7/10
Aston has ensured the latest Rapide is, err, rapid-er FDEULROHW7)6, 760 500 140 320 7.9 237 6.0 137 8/10
E\JLYLQJLWWKHHQJLQHIURPWKHODWHVW9DQTXLVK
Better than ever. FDEULROHW7)6,TXDWWURVSRUW 865 000 185 370 6.3 250 6.5 149 8/10
6FRXSpTXDWWUR 936 000 260 500 4.7 250 7.4 170 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 66SRUWEDFNTXDWWUR 951 000 260 500 4.7 250 7.5 170 7/10
Rapide S *4 000 000 410 620 4.9 306 14.3 332 8/10 6FDEULROHWTXDWWUR 1 037 000 260 500 5.1 250 7.8 177 7/10
56FRXSpTXDWWUR 1 297 000 331 600 3.9 250 8.7 197
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BMW PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
TopGear on BMW: 420i Gran Coupé 628 271 135 290 7.5 236 5.8 134 8/10 M850i xDrive coupé 1 887 827 390 750 3.7 250 10.4 238 7/10
420i Gran Coupé auto 648 386 135 270 7.7 236 5.5 127 8/10 M850i xDrive convertible 2 009 860 390 750 3.9 250 10.6 243 7/10
A car company run by engineers prioritising drivers, not passengers.
Has branched into making the best electric cars too, incidentally. 420d Gran Coupé 664 200 140 400 7.5 240 4.2 111 8/10
420d Gran Coupé auto 685 200 140 400 7.3 231 4.0 106 8/10
1 Series 440i Gran Coupé 898 801 240 450 5.1 250 6.6 154 8/10 i8
Perhaps the pick of the premium hatches right now, 420i coupé 628 271 135 290 7.3 236 5.8 134 9/10 The performance car that makes a Prius look like a gas
the 1 Series thrashes the opposition for driving. 420i coupé auto 648 386 135 270 7.5 236 5.5 127 9/10 JX]]OHU6WLOOWKHVXSHUFDUIRUVSDFHPHQ
M140i is a bargainous gem. 420d coupé 664 200 140 400 7.3 240 4.2 111 8/10
420d coupé auto 685 200 140 400 7.1 232 4.0 106 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
440i coupé 898 801 240 450 5.0 250 6.6 154 8/10
118i 446 980 100 220 8.5 210 5.3 123 5/10 420i convertible 766 424 135 270 8.4 230 5.8 136 8/10 eDrive Coupé 2 095 200 275e 570e 4.4 250 2.1 49 9/10
118i auto 467 600 100 220 8.7 210 5.1 119 5/10 440i convertible 1 028 634 240 450 5.4 250 6.8 159 7/10 eDrive Roadster 2 329 300 275e 570e 4.6 250 2.1 49 10/10
120i 496 159 135 270 7.1 225 5.5 126 6/10 M4 coupé 1 325 061 317 550 4.1 250 8.3 194 8/10
120d 518 500 140 400 7.1 228 4.1 108 7/10 M4 coupé Competition pack 1 462 161 331 550 4.2 280 8.8 204 9/10
DATSUN
120d auto 539 500 140 400 7.0 228 3.9 103 7/10 M4 convertible 1 495 700 317 550 4.4 250 8.7 203 8/10
M140i 720 540 250 500 4.6 250 7.1 163 8/10 M4 convertible Competition pack 1 632 800 331 550 4.3 280 8.7 203 8/10
M4 CS 1 864 341 338 600 3.9 280 8.4 197 8/10 TopGear on Datsun:
X1 Revered racing name scandalously reincarnated with questionable
New X1 gets FWD platform from 2 Series Active safety engineering. From India. Bad karma.
Tourer. Is less objectionable than old one in every Z4
single way. A tasty drive and a usable car. Just lacks the last edge of
engagement and of beauty.
Go
Even crash test dummies ran from the GO but can dual
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING airbags and ABS lure them back? Better than public transport
sDrive18i 518 539 103 220 9.6 203 5.6 129 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING and is reasonable value.
sDrive18i auto 540 045 103 220 9.6 201 5.8 133 7/10 sDrive20i 759 442 145 320 6.6 240 6.1 148 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
sDrive20i 585 104 141 280 7.6 224 6.2 139 7/10 M40i 1 036 699 250 500 4.5 250 7.4 169 7/10 1.2 Mid 144 500 50 104 13.3 161 5.2 123 4/10
sDrive20d 568 100 140 400 7.9 225 4.6 120 7/10 1.2 Lux 165 500 50 104 13.3 161 5.2 123 4/10
sDrive20d auto 589 100 140 400 7.8 222 4.6 120 7/10
xDrive20d 635 165 140 400 7.6 219 4.9 130 7/10 X4
Larger dimensions and nicer-to-touch materials. As with
all, a sportier conversion of the odd-numbered BMWs. Go+
If you can cajole brave friends willing to join you in a
2 Series / M2 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Datsun Go, this is the version you want.
2 Series follows BMW’s new naming strategy but xDrive20i 850 337 135 290 8.3 215 7.8 178 7/10
is very much its own car. And a rather good one xDrive20d 846 542 140 400 8.0 213 5.6 148 8/10
at that. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
M40d 1 140 264 240 680 4.9 250 6.8 179 1.2 Mid 154 200 50 104 13.3 161 5.2 123 4/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
M40i 1 143 679 265 500 4.8 250 9.1 206 8/10 1.2 Lux 175 900 50 104 13.3 161 5.2 123 4/10
220i coupé 533 359 135 270 7.2 230 5.5 126 7/10
220d coupé
220d coupé auto
550 600
571 600
140
140
400
400
7.1
7.0
230
230
4.1
4.0
107
104
7/10
7/10
5 Series / M5
Mimics a 7 Series rather well for a lot less money.
220i convertible
M240i coupé
623 492
725 940
135
250
270
500
7.7
4.6
226
250
5.7
7.1
131
163
6/10
8/10 FERRARI
M240i convertible 815 999 250 500 4.7 250 7.4 169 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING TopGear on Ferrari:
M2 competition 972 030 302 550 4.4 280 9.8 223 9/10 520i 772 557 135 290 7.8 250 6.2 141 8/10 Sickeningly kitsch theme parks don't detract from the cars, which
M2 competition auto 1 026 506 302 550 4.2 280 9.1 207 9/10 520d 813 406 140 400 7.5 235 4.7 124 7/10 are phenomenal and well beyond the capability of their owners.
530d 1 006 571 195 620 5.7 250 5.1 134 8/10
X2
540i 1 045 066 250 450 5.1 250 7.2 164 7/10 3RUWR¿QR    
M5 1 762 807 441 750 3.4 250 10.5 241 8/10 California morphed into 488-handling with a new Italian-
)LOOVWKHVXSHU¿FLDOUROHVXSHU¿FLDOO\ZHOO/HW¶VWKHRWKHU; M5 competition 2 062 433 460 750 3.3 305 10.6 242 sounding name now cleaning the slate.
models be the practical ones..

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

6 Series Gran Turismo 3RUWR¿QR
PRICE
POA
kW
441 760
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
3.5 320+ 10.5 245 8/10
sDrive18i 577 904 103 220 9.6 205 6.1 139 7/10 A posher more practical 5 Series that replaces the old 5 GT.
Another confused hatchback, like a marginally sleeker X6.
sDrive18i auto 599 410 103 220 9.6 205 6.3 143 7/10
sDrive20d
sDrive20i
649 065
650 077
140
141
400
280
7.9
7.7
224
227
4.9
6.0
130
138 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
488
Evolved 458 that makes turbocharging that much
xDrive20d 700 392 140 400 7.7 221 5.0 131 9/10 630d GT 1 127 316 195 620 6.1 250 5.6 147 7/10 more acceptable to the Tifosi. Trick aero. Looks ace.
M35i 815 172 225 450 4.9 241 7.4 168 640i xDrive GT 1 168 188 250 450 5.3 250 8.5 195 8/10

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

3 Series X5 488 GTB POA 492 760 3.0 330+ 11.4 260 10/10
$OLVWRITXDQWL¿DEOHQXPEHUVHDFKJUHDWHUWKDQWKHODVW The original softroader is very good on the tarmac. 488 Spider POA 492 760 3.0 325+ 11.4 260 9/10
Translated as roomier. Wants to wrestle its crown back from For a two-tonne SUV. Second only to the Range 488 Pista POA 530 770 2.9 340+ 11.5 263 10/10
alfa as the best handling sedan. Rover for utter road domination. 488 Pista Spider POA 530 770 2.9 340 11.7 266 10/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
320d 649 253 140 400 7.1 240 4.6 122 8/10 xDrive30d 1 194 296 195 620 6.5 230 7.0 184 8/10
330i 652 416 190 400 5.8 250 6.4 147 9/10 M50d 1 502 582 294 760 5.2 250 7.2 191 9/10 GTC4Lusso
Evolution of the FF idea. A really big Ferrari hatchback.
Now has four-wheel steer to prevent three-point
3 Series Gran Turismo X6 parking.
A 3 Series with some extra bottom. Boot is very A more grotesque, slightly less usable iteration of
clever but explaining what it is rather less so. the perfectly practical BMW X5. Get it if the idea
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
As close to a Touring as we are going to get in SA. of a slipperier looking SUV appeals to you. GTC4Lusso T POA 448 760 3.5 320 11.6 265 9/10
GTC4Lusso POA 507 697 3.4 335 15.0 350 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
320i GT 624 218 135 270 7.9 229 6.2 145 6/10 xDrive35i 1 197 767 225 400 6.4 240 8.5 198 5/10
320d GT 637 800 135 380 8.0 230 4.9 129 6/10 xDrive35i M Sport edition 1 254 467 225 400 6.4 240 8.5 198 6/10 812 superfast
320d GT auto 658 800 135 380 7.9 226 4.9 129 6/10 xDrive40d 1 360 740 230 630 5.8 240 6.2 163 6/10 As quick as a F12tdf but with more power and a smaller
340i GT 848 634 240 450 5.1 250 7.0 159 7/10 xDrive40d M Sport edition 1 417 440 230 630 5.8 240 6.2 163 6/10 price. Modestly named too.
xDrive50i 1 478 083 330 650 4.8 250 9.7 225 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
xDrive50i M Sport edition 1 513 783 330 650 4.8 250 9.7 225 5/10
i3 M50d 1 674 931 280 740 5.2 250 6.6 174 6/10 812 superfast POA 588 718 2.9 340 14.6 340 10/10
The future is here, its electric and we love it. M 2 115 557 423 750 4.2 250 11.1 258 7/10
The rest are now playing catch up. From a long
way behind.

eDrive
PRICE
658 500
kW
125e
Nm
250e
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
7.3 150 0.0 0 9/10
7 Series
Still the driver’s limousine, but that’s not the point. FIAT
S-class still has a better sense of occasion and of TopGear on Fiat:
eDrive REx 740 700 125e 250e 8.1 150 0.6 13 9/10 cohesion, and that’s probably what matters.
s eDrive 716 900 135e 270e 6.9 160 0.0 0 9/10 Painless to park. Good to look at. Quintessential Italian urban trans-
s eDrive REx 799 100 135e 270e 7.7 160 0.7 14 10/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING port. South Africa has a lot of parking space though. Conundrum.
740i 1 502 701 240 450 5.5 250 6.6 154 6/10
730d 1 529 892 195 620 6.1 250 5.0 131 7/10 Panda
X3 740e eDrive 1 554 700 240e 500e 5.4 250 2.1 49 7/10 It’s back, it’s slightly rounder and it’s still entirely brilliant.
Come ‘ere cuddly Panda, we want to give you a hug.
Far superior to older ones, so much so that you question 750i 1 972 296 330 650 4.7 250 7.9 184 7/10
the need for the X5. More socially acceptable, too. 750Li 2 127 976 330 650 4.7 250 8.0 187 7/10
M760Li xDrive 2 828 411 448 800 3.7 250 12.8 294 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 0.9 TwinAir Easy 204 900 63 145 11.2 177 4.2 99 7/10
sDrive18d 651 404 110 350 9.7 198 5.3 139 0.9 TwinAir Lounge 219 900 63 145 11.2 177 4.2 99 7/10
sDrive20i 661 199 135 290 8.2 213 7.4 169 9/10 X7 0.9 TwinAir 4x4 250 900 63 145 12.1 166 4.9 114 8/10
xDrive20i 707 405 135 290 8.3 215 7.6 173 8/10 Bigger than a Range Rover. Gulp. Designed to carry 7 adults 0.9 TwinAir 4x4 Cross 270 900 66 145 12.0 167 4.9 114 8/10
xDrive20d 710 989 140 400 8.0 213 5.5 146 8/10 and be BMW’s closest thing to the Cullinan, certainly in looks.
xDrive30i 776 631 185 350 6.3 240 7.6 174 8/10
xDrive30d 901 213 195 620 5.8 240 6.1 162 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 500
M40d 1 034 964 240 680 4.9 250 6.8 179 xDrive30d 1 562 849 195 620 7.0 227 7.0 186 7/10 Not quite the sixties revival Fiat had hope for, but an
M40i 1 038 379 265 500 4.8 250 9.1 206 9/10 M50d 1 862 308 294 760 5.4 250 7.3 192 7/10 excellent city car lifestyle accessory, if a touch less
of a driver’s car than more substantial Mini.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
4 Series / M4 8 Series TwinAir Pop 206 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 90 5/10
The name may have changed but the game’s still the Is it really much better than a highly optioned 4 Series? TwinAir Pop auto 226 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 88 5/10
VDPH 6PRRWK JHQWHHO UH¿QHG DQG VSRUWLVK TwinAir Pop Star 226 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 90 5/10

1 00 FEBRUARY 2019
TwinAir Pop Star auto 246 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 88 5/10 hatch 1.0T Trend 282 400 92 170 11.1 192 5.0 108 7/10 2.2MPi double cab 179 900 73 180 n/a n/a 9.8 251 5/10
TwinAir Lounge 249 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 92 5/10 hatch 1.0T Trend auto 294 900 92 170 11.0 192 5.5 125 7/10 2.2MPi double cab SX 204 900 73 180 n/a n/a 9.8 251 5/10
TwinAir Lounge auto 269 900 63 145 11.5 173 3.8 88 5/10 hatch 1.5TDCi Ambiente 323 000 88 270 10.5 193 4.1 105 7/10 2.0VGT double cab SX 229 900 105 305 n/a n/a 8.3 220 5/10
500S TwinAir 262 900 77 145 10.0 188 4.2 99 5/10 hatch 1.5TDCi Trend 341 000 88 270 10.5 193 4.1 105 7/10 2.0VGT double cab 4x4 SX 259 900 105 305 n/a n/a 8.3 220 5/10
500S TwinAir LE 292 900 77 145 10.0 188 4.2 99 5/10 hatch 1.5T Trend 323 000 132 240 8.6 224 5.5 127 7/10
500C TwinAir Lounge 280 900 63 145 11.0 173 3.8 92 5/10 hatch 1.5T Trend auto 341 000 132 240 8.9 222 6.1 140 7/10
500C TwinAir Lounge auto
500S TwinAir cabriolet
300 900
293 900
63
77
145
145
11.5 173
10.0 188
3.8
4.2
88
99
5/10
5/10
ST 1 457 800 184 360 6.5 248 6.8 159 8/10 H5
ST 3 501 100 184 360 6.5 248 6.8 159 8/10 Now in the shadows of Haval, we really have no idea what
500S TwinAir cabriolet LE 323 900 77 145 10.0 188 4.2 99 5/10 GWM is planning. If you try it, tell us..

Tipo Ranger PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

7KLVUHSODFHPHQWIRUWKH)LDW%UDYRWRQHVGRZQÀDPER\DQFH So much more bakkie than before, plus it’s bigger. 2.4L City 209 900 93 200 n/a 165 10.3 242 6/10
to nearly the mundane. A landing spot for current 500 owners Gotta like the big bro F150 genes. 2.0VGT City 249 900 105 310 n/a 160 7.6 199 6/10

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.2 268 900 88 285 n/a n/a 6.6 172 6/10 Steed 5E
sedan 1.4 Pop 239 900 70 127 11.5 185 5.7 133 5/10 2.2 Hi-Rider XL 343 500 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 +DVWRXFKVFUHHQDXGLRSLDQREODFNFDELQ¿QLVKHV
sedan 1.4 Easy 259 900 70 127 11.5 185 5.7 133 5/10 2.2 Hi-Rider XL auto 358 500 118 385 n/a n/a 7.5 197 7/10 and powered by an ostensibly self-developed 2-litre
sedan 1.3 Multijet Easy 290 900 70 200 11.8 183 3.7 117 6/10 2.2 4x4 XL 403 900 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 turbodiesel. Chinese+luxury+bakkie=oxymoronic.
sedan 1.6 Easy auto 290 900 81 152 11.2 192 6.3 146 5/10 2.2 4x4 XLS 457 600 118 385 n/a n/a 8.1 214 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
hatch 1.4 Pop 260 900 70 127 11.5 185 5.7 132 6/10 SuperCab 2.4 SX 219 900 93 200 n/a 150 10.7 251 4/10
hatch 1.4 Easy 280 900 70 127 11.5 185 5.7 132 6/10 2.2 Hi-Rider 308 900 88 285 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 2.4 Xscape 239 900 93 200 n/a 150 10.7 251 4/10
hatch 1.4 Lounge 300 900 70 127 11.5 185 5.7 132 6/10 2.2 Hi-Rider XL 372 900 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 2.0VGT SX 259 900 105 305 n/a 150 8.3 220 5/10
hatch 1.6 Easy auto 310 900 81 152 11.2 192 6.3 146 6/10 2.2 Hi-Rider XL auto 387 900 118 385 n/a n/a 7.5 197 7/10 2.0VGT Xscape 279 900 105 305 n/a 150 8.3 220 5/10
2.2 SuperCab 4x4 XL 429 500 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 7/10
2.2 4x4 XLS 496 900 118 385 n/a n/a 8.1 214 7/10
500X 3.2 4x4 XLT 579 900 147 470 n/a n/a 8.8 230 7/10 Steed 6
The quest to cash in on the 500 continues. double cab *:0¶VLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI$PHULFDQVXSHUVL]HGEDNNLH
Not a bad crossover, but in South Africa most will 2.2 Hi-Rider 341 900 88 285 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 GHVLJQKHQFHJLQRUPRXVJULOOHDQGRYHUVL]HG
probably prefer to go Renegade. headlamps. Six airbags and ESP. Needs more power.
2.2 Hi-Rider XL 403 900 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.2 Hi-Rider XL auto 418 300 118 385 n/a n/a 7.5 197 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.6 Pop 298 900 81 152 11.5 180 6.4 147 6/10 2.2 4x4 XL 445 500 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10 2.0VGT SX 284 900 105 305 n/a 150 8.8 233 6/10
1.4T Pop Star 336 900 103 230 9.8 190 6.0 139 7/10 2.2 4x4 XL auto 460 800 118 385 n/a n/a 8.1 214 7/10 2.0VGT Xscape 314 900 105 310 n/a 150 8.8 233 6/10
1.4T Pop Star auto 356 900 103 230 9.8 190 5.7 133 7/10 2.2 4x4 XL-Plus 460 600 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 6/10
1.4T Cross 362 900 103 230 9.8 190 6.0 139 6/10 2.2 4x4 XLS 544 700 118 385 n/a n/a 8.1 214 7/10
1.4T Cross auto 381 900 103 230 9.8 190 5.7 133 8/10
HAVAL
2.2 Hi-Rider XLT 491 990 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 7/10
2.2 Hi-Rider XLT auto 507 100 118 385 n/a n/a 7.5 197 7/10
3.2 Hi-Rider XLT 549 900 147 470 n/a n/a 8.2 217 7/10
Fullback 3.2 Hi-Rider XLT auto 565 500 147 470 n/a n/a 8.5 225 7/10 TopGear on Haval: GWM’s attempt at branching into
It’s a Mitsubishi Triton, with a Fiat badge and 3.2 4x4 XLT 625 500 147 470 n/a n/a 9.0 236 7/10 premium passenger car market. But really, it’s still
branding support. Could you imagine anything 3.2 Hi-Rider Wildtrak 596 500 147 470 n/a n/a 8.5 225 7/10 GWM.
stranger to a South African bakkie buyer? 3.2 4x4 Wildtrak 655 900 147 470 n/a n/a 9.0 236 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING H1
2.4 de-spec 227 900 97 202 n/a 169 10.3 246 GWM’s attempt at branching into premium passenger car
2.4 286 900 97 202 n/a 169 10.3 246 5/10 Kuga market. But really, it’s still GWM.
2.5Di-D de-spec 265 900 100 324 n/a 167 7.8 204 Has the unenviable job of restoring public’s faith so Ford
2.5Di-D 323 900 100 324 n/a 167 7.8 204 6/10 SULFHGLWVPDUWO\WZHDNHGWKHHQJLQHVDQG¿WWHGODWHVW6<1& PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.5Di-D double cab SX 461 900 100 324 n/a 167 7.9 207 6/10 &RPPHQWVDERXWFDWFKLQJ¿UHOLWWHUHGWKHODXQFK 1.5 179 900 69 130 10.0 170 7.2 170 4/10
2.5Di-D double cab 4x4 LX 528 900 131 400 n/a 167 7.7 206 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.4Di-D double cab 4x4 LX auto 573 900 133 430 11.8 177 7.8 207 6/10 1.5T Ambiente 384 900 110 240 9.7 195 6.2 143 7/10
1.5T Ambiente auto 398 500 132 240 10.1 200 6.9 159 7/10 H2
1.5TDCi Ambiente 426 200 88 270 12.7 173 4.4 115 6/10 Operating as a premium GWM but that does not guarantee a
1.5T Trend auto 445 900 132 240 10.1 200 6.9 159 7/10 clean slate in a brand-conscious SA where even established

FORD
1.5TDCi Trend 456 200 88 270 12.7 173 4.4 115 7/10 brands are struggling.
2.0T AWD ST Line 548 500 177 240 7.8 212 8.6 197 7/10
2.0TDCi AWD ST Line 566 900 132 400 10.4 196 5.4 140 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
TopGear on Ford:
1.5T City 259 900 105 202 n/a 190 8.2 194 5/10
American alternative to VW, with a range of very tidily engineered 1.5T City auto 294 900 105 202 n/a 180 9.0 214 5/10
cars. Ranger has become Hilux’s most credible rival in, well, forever. Tourneo Custom 1.5T Luxury 284 900 105 202 n/a 190 8.2 194 6/10
It’s like a posh Transit, only less panel-vanny.
Figo 1.5T Luxury auto 319 900 105 202 n/a 180 9.0 214 6/10
Not a previous generation Fiesta anymore. Very
much its own emerging market platform. Credible,
somewhat affordable, family motoring. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING H6
2.2TDCi LWB Ambiente 546 000 74 310 n/a 157 6.5 172 6/10 3XVKLQWRSUHPLXPVHFWRULVUHÀHFWHGE\LWVSULFLQJ8QOLNHO\
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING to turn the tide away from mainstream models.
2.2TDCi LWB Trend 567 300 92 350 n/a 157 6.5 172 6/10
hatch 1.5 Ambiente 182 900 88 150 n/a 175 5.7 132 3/10
hatch 1.5 Trend 192 900 88 150 n/a 175 5.7 132 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
hatch 1.5 Trend auto
sedan 1.5 Ambiente
207 900
188 900
88
88
150
150
n/a
n/a
175
175
6.5
5.7
150
132
5/10
6/10
Everest 1.5T City 244 900 105 210 n/a 180 8.5 200 5/10
Five-door version of crushingly successful Ranger 1.5T Premium 264 900 105 210 n/a 180 8.5 200 7/10
sedan 1.5 Trend 197 950 88 150 n/a 175 5.7 132 5/10 bakkie. Toyota doesn’t like it, which means you will.
hatch 1.5 Titanium 215 900 88 150 n/a 175 5.7 132
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.2 XLS 467 100 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 9/10 H6 C
Fiesta 2.2 XLS auto 485 300 118 385 n/a n/a 7.3 193 9/10 If you want to imitate the competition you need a coupe-ish
Gets new look and better interior but it’s not quite the mini 2.2 XLT 502 400 118 385 n/a n/a 6.9 182 9/10 SUV. Next we’ll have a Haval Grand Tourer coupe.
new-gen Focus we were wishing it would be. 2.2 XLT auto 522 700 118 385 n/a n/a 7.3 193 9/10
Lower risk factor than a Polo. 2.2 4WD XLS 552 800 118 385 n/a n/a 7.1 186 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
3.2 XLT 607 900 147 470 n/a n/a 8.2 217 8/10 2.0T City 329 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.7 223 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
3.2 4WD XLT 696 900 147 470 11.6 n/a 8.2 217 8/10 2.0T City auto 359 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.8 225 5/10
1.0T Trend 269 900 74 170 10.5 183 4.3 97 8/10
3.2 4WD Limited 751 900 147 470 11.6 n/a 8.2 217 8/10 2.0T Premium 349 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.7 223 5/10
1.0T Trend auto 285 500 74 170 12.2 180 5.2 118 8/10
1.5TDCi Trend 300 900 63 175 12.5 175 3.3 84 7/10 2.0T Premium auto 379 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.8 225 5/10
2.0T Luxury 369 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.7 223 6/10
1.0T Titanium
1.0T Titanium auto
304 900
319 900
92
74
170
170
9.9 195
12.2 180
4.3
5.2
97
118
8/10
8/10
Mustang 2.0T Luxury auto 399 900 140 310 9.0 190 9.8 225 6/10
At last, a muscle car to call our own. Mustang now
here in right -hand drive, still feels very American.
EcoSport Also large. H9
A myriad very welcome interior updates and brilliant PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Seven-seater with 4x4 drivetrain lands this in a niche market.
engines but no AWD version and small boot 2.3T fastback 728 500 233 430 5.8 239 8.0 179 7/10 Power, design and features are catching up.
2.3T fastback auto 750 200 233 430 5.8 239 9.8 225 7/10
2.3T convertible auto 812 700 233 430 5.8 239 9.8 225 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 5.0 GT fastback 872 200 306 530 4.8 263 13.5 308 6/10 2.0T 4WD Luxury 599 900 180 350 n/a n/a 10.9 254 6/10
1.5TDCi Ambiente 267 500 74 205 14.5 160 4.6 121 6/10 5.0 GT fastback auto 893 200 306 530 4.8 263 12.0 287 6/10
1.0T Trend 293 500 92 170 12.7 181 5.4 123 6/10 5.0 GT convertible auto 955 800 306 530 4.8 263 12.8 294 6/10
1.0T Trend auto 306 900 92 170 12.7 181 6.3 143 7/10
1.0T Titanium
1.0T Titanium auto
334 500
346 900
92
92
170
170
12.7 181
12.7 181
5.4
6.3
123
143
6/10
7/10
HONDA
TopGear on Honda:
Focus GWM World’s greatest engine company assembles very reliable cars,
which you’ll have no desire to buy.
New engines, new interior design, even a tweak to TopGear on GWM:
perk the handling back up. Focus is back to its best. Best of the Chinese isn’t really saying much. Was stupendous value. Brio
Now comically on par with Korean and Japanese pricing. Silly. 7KLQNRILWDVDVPDOOHU-D]]ZLWKRXWWKHFOHYHUELWV
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Bombproof mechanical build quality.
sedan 1.0T Ambiente 258 200 92 170 11.1 192 5.0 110 7/10 Steed 5
sedan 1.0T Ambiente auto 271 800 92 170 11.1 192 5.5 125 7/10 Low tech meets high value. Offers impressive value PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
sedan 1.0T Trend 275 300 92 170 11.1 192 5.0 110 7/10 as a workhorse, but won’t ever win the walk-off. 1.2 Trend 164 200 65 109 11.9 n/a 5.6 133 5/10
sedan 1.0T Trend auto 289 300 92 170 11.1 192 5.5 125 7/10 1.2 Comfort 180 100 65 109 12.1 n/a 5.6 133 5/10
sedan 1.5TDCi Ambiente 305 300 88 270 10.6 195 4.1 105 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.2 Comfort auto 194 900 65 109 14.6 n/a 6.3 150 5/10
sedan 1.5TDCi Trend 310 400 88 270 10.6 195 4.1 105 7/10 2.2MPi Workhorse 159 900 73 180 n/a n/a 9.9 251 5/10
sedan 1.5T Trend 317 000 132 240 8.7 222 5.6 128 7/10 2.0WGT Workhorse 189 900 78 225 n/a n/a 8.1 214 5/10
sedan 1.5T Trend auto 335 600 132 240 9.0 220 6.1 140 7/10 2.0WGT Workhorse safety 209 900 78 225 n/a n/a 8.1 214
hatch 1.0T Ambiente 263 200 92 170 11.1 192 5.0 108 7/10 2.0WGT 4x4 Workhorse 219 900 78 225 n/a n/a 8.1 214 5/10
hatch 1.0T Ambiente auto 276 800 92 170 11.1 192 5.5 125 7/10
FEBRUARY 2019 101
$PD]H     should always be considered 2.5 TD
2.5 TD Hi-Rider
332 500
387 800
100
100
320
320
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.7
7.7
203
203 6/10
Japanese marketing enthusiasm but in the battle of the PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
budget Uber cars, this could be the winner. 1.2 Motion 237 900 61 115 13.3 165 5.9 140 6/10 2.5 TD X-Rider 424 400 100 320 n/a n/a 7.7 203 6/10
1.2 Fluid 249 900 61 115 13.3 165 5.9 140 6/10 2.5 TD 4x4 Hi-Rider 435 500 100 320 n/a n/a 7.9 208 7/10
1.4 Motion auto 262 900 74 133 13.2 163 7.5 160 6/10 2.5 TD 4x4 X-Rider 472 500 100 320 n/a n/a 7.9 208 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4 Fluid 275 900 74 133 11.4 182 6.5 147 7/10 2.5 TD LE 437 200 100 320 n/a n/a 7.7 203 6/10
$PD]H7UHQG 179 900 66 110 12.3 160 5.6 133 7/10
$PD]H&RPIRUW 193 900 66 110 12.3 160 5.6 133 7/10 1.4 Fluid auto 292 900 74 133 13.2 163 7.5 160 6/10 3.0 TD LX 522 100 130 380 n/a n/a 7.7 203 7/10
$PD]H&RPIRUWDXWR 208 900 66 110 13.5 160 5.7 135 6/10 1.4 Active 287 900 74 133 11.4 182 6.7 155 6/10 3.0 TD LX auto 537 100 130 380 n/a n/a 7.5 198 7/10
3.0 TD 4x4 LX 591 800 130 380 n/a n/a 8.0 211 7/10
3.0 TD 4x4 LX auto 606 400 130 380 n/a n/a 7.8 206 7/10
-D]]     Accent
,QGLYLGXDODQGLQJHQLRXVWKH-D]]GHVHUYHVWREH Plastic hubcaps complete sleeper looks, with a
bought by more people under ninety than it is. rev-happy screamer of an engine.
mu-X
A worthier adversary to the Fortuner and Everest than the
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING QXOODQGYRLG&KHYUROHW7UDLOEOD]HU3URSHUEUDQGFDFKHWRXU
1.2 Trend 218 300 66 110 13.5 175 5.6 135 6/10 sedan 1.6 Motion 256 900 91 156 10.2 190 6.1 145 7/10 mind jogs back to Frontier’s success.
1.2 Comfort 248 400 66 110 13.6 175 5.6 135 6/10 sedan 1.6 Fluid 282 900 91 156 10.2 190 6.1 145 7/10
1.2 Comfort auto 267 500 66 110 14.3 174 5.6 136 6/10 sedan 1.6 Fluid auto 297 900 91 156 11.4 184 6.4 151 7/10 3.0 568 000 130 380 n/a n/a 7.3 194 7/10
1.5 Elegance 285 000 88 145 9.9 180 6.0 143 7/10 hatch 1.6 Fluid 284 900 91 156 10.2 190 6.4 152 7/10 3.0 4WD 629 100 130 380 n/a n/a 7.9 208 7/10
1.5 Elegance auto 301 300 88 145 10.6 180 5.8 140 7/10 hatch 1.6 Fluid auto 302 900 91 156 11.4 184 6.8 161 7/10
1.5 Sport 319 200 97 155 9.8 180 5.6 133 5/10
Elantra
Ballade
Hugely convincing facelift raises this iteration of the
Revamped drivetrain includes turbo mill and dual clutch box.
Has pretentions of sportiness.
JAC
Ballade from budget to bearable. TopGear on JAC:
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Chinese brands are normally quiet. This one is in a coma.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.6 Executive 323 900 93 155 10.1 200 6.5 155 6/10
1.6 Execute auto 343 900 93 155 11.6 195 6.9 161 6/10
1.5 Trend
1.5 Trend auto
253 400
269 600
88
88
145
145
9.6
11.1
185
190
5.9
5.8
140
137
6/10
5/10 2.0 Elite 378 900 115 195 9.9 202 8.3 174 6/10 T6
1.6 Turbo Elite Sport 424 900 150 265 7.7 210 7.9 164 6/10 We don’t know what or how, but there’s some partnership
1.5 Elegance 284 300 88 145 9.6 185 5.9 140 5/10 ZLWK9:EUHZLQJ'RQ¶WH[SHFW$PDURNUH¿QHPHQW
1.5 Elegance auto 300 300 88 145 11.1 190 5.8 137 6/10
1.5 Executive auto 325 800 88 145 11.1 190 5.8 137 5/10
Creta 2.8T double cab Lux 304 900 88 250 n/a 150 n/a 232 6/10
About as close to military-grade spec as Hyundai gets.
1.9T double cab 4x4 Lux 349 900 100 320 n/a 160 8.0 -
BR-V Boring but worth a look.
Has some ground clearance. And seven seats.
Mobilio high-rider. For Kalahari-based Uber drivers.
1.6 Executive
PRICE
349 900 90
kW Nm
150
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
11.9 168 7.9 164 6/10
JAGUAR
PRICE kW Nm 0-10 G 1.6 Executive auto 373 900 90 150 12.1 169 8.4 175 6/10 TopGear on Jaguar:
1.5 Trend 253 700 88 145 n/a 0 1.6D Executive 414 900 94 260 11.9 179 7.4 154 7/10 Indian cash finally delivered Jaguar’s E-Type rival, only a few decades
1.5 Comfort 268 500 88 145 n/a n/a 6.3 151 5/10 late. Characterful British alternative to the Germans.
1.5 Comfort auto 284 700 88 145 n/a n/a 6.2 148 5/10
1.5 Elegance 289 700 88 145 n/a n/a 6.3 151 5/10 Kona E-Pace
1.5 Elegance auto 305 900 88 145 n/a n/a 6.2 148 5/10 First bash at a 3cyl turbo and it’s a gamechanger for Hyundai Jag’s crossover still offers Ian Callum styling, Ingenium
Stands out That’s a in a crowded market. engines and the ability to say, “Let’s take the Jaaaag.” Lovely.

Civic sedan PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

What was once the Japanese compact sedan to 1.0T Executive 379 900 88 175 12.0 181 6.8 138 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
have is now a forgotten thing amidst all the 2.0 Executive 399 900 110 180 10.0 194 7.2 166 8/10 D150 AWD 629 216 110 380 10.5 193 5.6 147 7/10
crossover mania. Has effectively replaced Accord. D150 AWD S 693 016 110 380 10.5 193 5.6 147 7/10
D150 AWD SE 733 516 110 380 10.5 193 5.6 147 7/10
1.8 Comfort
PRICE
350 200
kW
104
Nm
174
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
10.4 200 6.3 150 6/10 Tucson D150 AWD HSE 770 916 110 380 10.5 193 5.6 147 7/10
Just what the world needed, another SUV. Silly name but D180 AWD 651 016 132 430 9.3 205 5.6 147 7/10
1.8 Elegance 392 500 104 174 10.4 200 6.3 150 6/10 otherwise quite good.
1.5T Sport 456 100 127 220 8.2 200 5.9 140 6/10 D180 AWD S 714 916 132 430 9.3 205 5.6 147 7/10
1.5T Executive 487 800 127 220 8.2 200 5.9 140 6/10 D180 AWD SE 755 416 132 430 9.3 205 5.6 147 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING D180 AWD HSE 792 716 132 430 9.3 205 5.6 147 7/10
2.0 Premium 413 900 115 196 10.6 186 8.9 189 6/10 P200 AWD 675 731 147 320 8.2 216 7.7 174 6/10
Civic hatch 2.0 Premium auto
2.0 Executive
433 900
474 900
115
115
196
196
11.1 181
11.1 181
9.0
9.0
185
185
6/10
6/10
P200 AWD S
P200 AWD SE
739 631
780 131
147
147
320
320
8.2 216
8.2 216
7.7
7.7
174
174
6/10
6/10
7RS*HDU¶V&DURIWKH<HDUDQG3HUIRUPDQFH&DURIWKH<HDU
Underneath the obnoxious wings, is a usable, broadly 2.0 Elite 514 900 115 196 11.1 181 9.0 185 6/10 P200 AWD HSE 817 531 147 320 8.2 216 7.7 174 6/10
talented hatch. 2.0D Executive 545 900 131 400 9.3 201 7.9 164 6/10 P250 AWD 704 631 183 365 7.0 230 7.7 174 7/10
1.6T Elite 579 900 130 265 8.9 201 8.5 186 8/10 P250 AWD S 768 431 183 365 7.0 230 7.7 174 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.0D Elite 589 900 131 400 9.3 201 7.9 164 7/10 P250 AWD SE 808 931 183 365 7.0 230 7.7 174 7/10
Type R 648 300 228 400 5.8 272 8.4 200 9/10 P250 AWD HSE 846 331 183 365 7.0 230 7.7 174 7/10
D240 AWD S 773 013 177 500 7.4 224 6.2 162 8/10
H-1 D240 AWD SE 813 613 177 500 7.4 224 6.2 162 8/10
HR-V Surprisingly good van that should be issued as D240 AWD HSE 851 013 177 500 7.4 224 6.2 162 8/10
+RQGD-D]]ZLWKDELWPRUHFKXQN\HWVPDOOIRUFODVV standard spec to JZ’s wives. Lots of space, plenty
Feels antiquated, dull engine and CVT box. to like. P300 AWD S 825 717 221 400 6.4 243 8.0 181 7/10
P300 AWD SE 866 217 221 400 6.4 243 8.0 181 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING P300 AWD HSE 903 517 221 400 6.4 243 8.0 181 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.4 bus Executive 519 900 126 224 17.1 178 10.2 241 5/10
1.5 Comfort 354 900 88 145 12.0 179 6.3 151 5/10 2.5CRDi bus Elite 644 900 125 441 14.4 180 9.8 238 6/10
1.8 Elegance 419 900 105 172 10.1 188 6.8 162 5/10

Santa Fe XE
CR-V +\XQGDL¶VÀDJVKLSVDLOVIRUULFKHUZDWHUV7KDWD5 Forget the F-Type, this is actually the most
A car engineered for accountants. Great all-rounder but Hyundai feels like good value tells you all you need to know. important Jaguar of the last decade. Exchange rate
deeply boring. New turbo engine does try hard to liven it up. DIÀLFWHGSULFLQJGRHVQ¶WDVVLVWLWVDPELWLRQV
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.2D Premium 599 900 142 440 n/a n/a 7.8 200 7/10 25t Prestige 717 536 184 365 6.3 250 6.3 144 6/10
2.0 Comfort 435 900 113 189 7.3 192 7.3 173 6/10 2.2D Executive 659 900 142 440 n/a n/a 7.8 200 8/10 25t Landmark Edition 768 736 184 365 6.3 250 6.3 144
2.0 Elegance 492 500 113 189 7.3 192 7.3 173 6/10 2.2D 4WD Elite 749 900 142 440 n/a n/a 8.2 200 8/10 25t Portfolio 789 736 184 365 6.3 250 6.3 144 6/10
1.5T Executive AWD 602 500 140 240 7.0 200 7.0 167 7/10 30t Prestige 755 475 221 400 5.7 250 6.7 153 6/10
1.5T Exclusive AWD 645 700 140 240 7.0 200 7.0 167 7/10 300 Sport 823 275 221 400 5.7 250 6.7 153
30t Portfolio 834 175 221 400 5.7 250 6.7 153 6/10
ISUZU S 1 057 761 280 450 5.0 250 8.1 194 6/10

HYUNDAI
TopGear on Isuzu:
The quintessential bakkie brand – it does nothing else – has fallen XF
behind the technology curve. Reliable, but rivals are better. Luxurious, dynamic, different. All those discerning
TopGear on Hyundai: Jaguar values, but, nobody will notice until it has a
Korean behemoth perhaps the greatest threat of all to Toyota’s pas- D-Max proper high-power diesel and petrol engine.
senger-car business. Needs a bakkie for true world domination. A new name but mostly same old KB. Bulletproof engines, PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
FKRSS\ULGHDQGJHQHUDOO\ODFNLQJLQUH¿QHPHQWFRPSDUHG
Grand i10 to the others. 20d Prestige
25t Prestige
808 700
851 001
132
184
430
365
8.1
6.6
229
244
4.3
6.8
114
154
6/10
6/10
Lacks the charisma of the Fiat Panda and the sheer
polish of the Volkswagen up! but actually, if you don’t care PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 25t Portfolio 972 401 184 365 6.6 244 6.8 154 6/10
about cars, then buy this one. 2.5C TD 256 100 58 176 n/a n/a 7.9 208 6/10 30t R-Sport 962 875 221 400 5.9 250 6.8 153 7/10
2.5C TD Fleetside 280 000 58 176 n/a n/a 7.9 208 6/10 300 Sport 1 022 475 221 400 5.9 250 6.8 153 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.5 TD Fleetside 299 900 100 320 n/a n/a 7.6 199 6/10 S 1 355 167 280 450 5.3 250 8.3 198 7/10
1.0 Motion 164 900 48 94 14.9 155 5.4 132 8/10
1.0 Motion auto 185 900 48 94 16.9 146 5.9 143 7/10 2.5 TD Fleetside safety 310 500 100 320 n/a n/a 7.6 199 6/10
2.5 TD LE 353 500 100 320 n/a n/a 7.6 199 6/10
1.0 Fluid
1.2 Fluid
185 900
201 900
48
64
94
120
14.9 155
12.2 168
5.4
5.9
132
133
8/10
8/10 2.5 TD 4x4 Hi-Rider 399 600 100 320 n/a n/a 8.2 217 7/10 F-Pace
3.0 TD LX 413 800 130 380 n/a n/a 7.7 203 7/10 Coventry’s crossover cat not as rewarding to drive
1.2 Fluid auto 223 900 64 120 14.1 161 6.9 147 7/10 as Macan and priced a bit dearly due to Rand
1.2 Glide 219 900 64 120 12.2 168 5.9 133 8/10 3.0 TD 4x4 LX 477 900 130 380 n/a n/a 8.2 215 7/10 depreciation.
Extended Cab
2.5 TD Hi-Rider 358 000 100 320 n/a n/a 7.6 199 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

i20 3.0 TD LX
3.0 TD LX auto
450 700
465 200
130
130
380
380
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.8
7.5
202
198
7/10
7/10
20d AWD Pure
25t Pure
828 804
896 540
132
184
430
365
8.7
6.8
208
217
5.3
7.1
139
163
7/10
7/10
It’s the last Hyundai i20. It’s no paradigm crusher but
that’s ok. It’s the best kind of normal you could hope for and 3.0 TD 4x4 LX 513 700 130 380 n/a n/a 8.0 211 6/10 25t AWD Pure 926 325 184 365 6.8 217 7.4 170 7/10
double cab 25d AWD Pure 916 975 177 500 7.2 217 5.8 153 8/10

1 02 FEBRUARY 2019
30t AWD Pure 941 731 221 400 6.0 233 7.7 174 8/10 2.0 EX 467 995 115 196 11.1 181 8.1 184 6/10
30d AWD Pure 998 034 221 700 6.2 241 6.0 159 7/10 2.0CRDi EX 518 995 131 400 9.3 201 6.3 164 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
30d AWD S 1 154 934 221 700 6.2 241 6.0 159 7/10 2.0CRDi EX AWD 546 995 131 400 9.5 201 6.3 164 6/10
3.6L Laredo 807 900 210 347 8.3 206 10.4 244 6/10
35t AWD S 1 259 659 280 450 5.5 250 8.9 209 7/10 2.0 EX Plus 508 995 115 196 11.1 181 8.1 184 6/10
3.0CRD Laredo 963 900 179 569 8.2 202 7.5 198 7/10 2.0CRDi EX Plus 559 995 131 400 9.3 201 6.3 164
SVR 1 517 828 405 680 4.3 283 11.9 272
3.6L Limited 891 900 210 347 8.3 206 10.4 244 6/10
3.6L Overland 955 900 210 347 8.3 206 10.4 244 6/10
F-Type 3.6L Summit
5.7L Overland
1 091 900
1 053 900
210
259
347
520
8.3
7.3
206
225
10.4
13.0
244
304
6/10
5/10
Sorento
Could be an over-priced Cayman/Boxster rival. Or bargain Greater model proliferation and a few choices between
911 alternative. In reality, a simply fantastic car. 3.0CRD Limited 1 047 900 179 569 8.2 202 7.5 198 7/10 two rows of seats and three. The least interesting KIA
3.0CRD Overland 1 101 900 179 569 8.2 202 7.5 198 7/10 on sale.
3.0CRD Summit 1 256 900 179 569 8.2 202 7.5 198 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
SRT 1 348 900 344 624 5.0 257 14.0 327 7/10 2.2CRDi LX 579 995 147 440 9.4 203 6.3 164 6/10
coupé P300 1 093 840 221 400 5.7 250 7.2 163 6/10 Trackhawk 2 199 900 522 875 3.5 290 16.8 385
coupé P340 1 132 521 250 450 5.7 260 9.8 234 7/10 2.2CRDi AWD LX 619 995 147 440 9.4 203 6.5 170 6/10
coupé P340 auto 1 145 994 250 450 5.3 260 8.4 199 7/10 2.2CRDi EX 609 995 147 440 9.4 203 6.3 164 6/10
coupé P380 1 254 621 280 460 5.5 275 9.8 234 7/10 2.2CRDi AWD EX 649 995 147 440 9.4 203 6.5 170 6/10
coupé P380 auto 1 268 500 280 460 4.9 275 8.6 203 7/10
coupé P380 AWD
convertible P300
1 288 612
1 111 940
280
221
460
400
5.1
5.7
275
250
8.9
7.2
211
163
8/10
8/10
JMC Grand Sedona
The best comfy people mover on sale. Period. Lots of toys
convertible P340 1 150 721 250 450 5.7 260 9.8 234 7/10 Landwind and some pretty decent engines to pull the load.
convertible P340 auto 1 164 194 250 450 5.3 260 8.4 199 7/10 Ergonomic foibles and engines dragged into action from a
convertible P380 1 272 721 280 460 5.5 275 9.8 234 7/10 decade ago. Styling copycats adds to fair product unoriginality.
convertible P380 auto 1 286 600 280 460 4.9 275 8.6 203 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
convertible P380 AWD 1 306 612 280 460 5.1 275 8.9 211 7/10 2.2CRDi EX 610 995 147 440 13.6 190 8.0 208 9/10
R coupé AWD 2 182 249 405 680 4.1 300 11.3 269 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.2CRDi EX+ 639 995 147 440 13.6 190 8.0 208 9/10
R convertible AWD 2 200 549 405 680 4.1 300 11.3 269 8/10 2.0T Lux 241 990 140 250 11.0 185 8.5 201 5/10 2.2CRDi SXL 792 995 147 440 13.6 190 8.0 208 9/10
SVR coupé AWD 2 470 149 423 700 3.7 322 11.3 269 8/10 2.0T Lux auto 272 880 140 250 12.7 170 8.5 201 5/10
SVR convertible AWD 2 488 449 423 700 3.7 314 11.3 269 8/10 2.0T Flagship 309 880 140 250 12.7 170 8.5 201 5/10
LAMBORGHINI
I-Pace TopGear on Lamborghini:
Jaguar’s Powerway infrastructure for long distance EV travel
is the real drawcard here. A brand committed to an EV future
in our market.
KIA All-wheel drive because it’s owned by Audi. Preposterous cars the
world would be a poorer place without.
TopGear on Kia:
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
For people who need a better-styled Hyundai.
Urus
EV400 S 1 687 200 294e 696e 4.8 200 0.0 0 8/10 Lamborghini bites SUV bait and by scavenging bits from
EV400 SE 1 745 400 294e 696e 4.8 200 0.0 0 8/10 4PDQDJHVWRSURGXFHDUH¿QHG689¿UVWWLPHRXW
EV400 HSE 1 820 900 294e 696e 4.8 200 0.0 0 8/10 Picanto
EV400 HSE First Edition 1 920 700 294e 696e 4.8 200 0.0 0 7/10 A little cracker to the max. Picanto looks good, drives well PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
with build quality able to rival anyone. Urus 3 495 000 478 850 3.6 305 12.6 292 9/10
XJ
<RZ]HUV7KH;-LVUDSLGUH¿QHGDQGMXVWSODLQ
beautiful. The interior is so special we had to invent 1.0 Start
PRICE
150 995
kW
49
Nm
95
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
n/a 155 5.0 118 7/10
Huracán
Lambo’s riposte to the 488 and 570S/650S. Smoother
an award for it. 1.0 Start auto 164 995 49 95 n/a 155 5.3 126 7/10 and slicker but ultimately remains Gallardo v2.0.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.0 Street 158 995 49 95 n/a 155 5.0 118 7/10
XJ 3.0D Luxury 1 621 996 221 700 6.2 250 7.0 184 8/10 1.0 Style 168 995 49 95 n/a 155 5.0 118 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
XJ 3.0D Premium Luxury 1 774 296 221 700 6.2 250 7.0 184 8/10 1.0 Style auto 182 995 49 95 n/a 155 5.3 126 6/10
1.0 Smart 191 995 49 95 n/a 155 5.0 118 7/10 LP580-2 coupé 4 595 000 426 540 3.4 320 14.5 335 9/10
XJ 3.0D XJ50 1 823 096 221 700 6.2 250 7.0 184 8/10 LP580-2 Spyder 4 995 000 426 540 3.6 319 14.8 342 8/10
XJ L 3.0D Premium Luxury 1 885 696 221 700 6.2 250 7.0 184 8/10 1.2 Start 162 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.0 116 7/10
1.2 Start auto 176 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.9 138 6/10 LP610-4 coupé 5 295 000 449 560 3.2 325+ 14.7 339 9/10
XJ L 3.0D XJ50 1 929 996 221 700 6.2 250 7.0 184 8/10 LP610-4 Spyder 5 795 000 449 560 3.4 324 15.1 350 9/10
XJ 3.0 Supercharged R-Sport 2 017 112 250 450 5.9 250 9.1 211 8/10 1.2 Street 174 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.0 116 7/10
1.2 Style 184 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.0 116 8/10 LP640-4 Performante coupé 6 095 000 470 600 2.9 325+ 14.8 342 9/10
XJ L 3.0 Supercharged Portfolio 2 092 212 250 450 5.9 250 9.1 211 8/10 LP640-4 Performante Spyder 6 795 000 470 600 3.1 325 15.0 348
XJR575 2 749 716 423 700 4.4 300 11.1 264 9/10 1.2 Style auto 198 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.9 138 8/10
XJ L 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography 3 027 116 375 625 4.9 250 11.1 264 8/10 1.2 Smart 208 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.0 116 8/10
1.2 Smart auto 222 995 61 122 n/a 170 5.9 138 8/10 Aventador
Murciélago replacement doesn’t disappoint. A hint

JEEP
of Audi has crept in, but the Aventador is still one
Rio sedan bonkers supercar.
Another looker from Kia desperately in search of
more shove. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
TopGear on Jeep: LP740-4 S coupé 7 895 000 544 690 2.9 350 16.9 394 9/10
Some very capable 4x4s; but you’ve already bought that Land-Rover LP740-4 S Roadster 8 695 000 544 690 3.0 350 16.9 394 9/10
or ’Cruiser, haven’t you? PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
LP770-4 SVJ coupé POA 566 720 2.8 351 19.6 452 9/10
1.2 225 995 65 120 13.1 168 5.4 129 4/10
Renegade 1.4 auto 269 495 79 135 13.2 170 7.0 165 6/10
Fiat 500X’s American cousin. If real Jeeps have
round headlights, then this is surely one. Right?
Rio hatch LAND ROVER
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Once a gamechanger hobbled by bland engines and TopGear on Land Rover:
1.6L Sport 308 900 81 152 11.0 178 6.0 149 5/10 GR]\DXWRPDWLFV
No longer a symbol of British hard-line foreign policy. Range Rover
1.6L Longitude 396 900 81 152 11.0 178 6.0 149 5/10 once again the stately SUV brand it once was.
1.4L T Limited 451 900 103 230 10.9 181 6.0 140 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4L T Limited auto 483 900 103 230 11.0 181 5.9 137 6/10 1.2 LS 233 995 62 120 12.9 170 5.7 135 6/10 Discovery Sport
1.6L Multijet Limited 468 900 88 320 10.2 178 4.6 120 6/10 1.4 LX 252 995 74 135 11.5 176 5.8 137 6/10 The Freelander gets a new name, two more seats
2.4L 4x4 Trailhawk 535 900 137 232 9.8 180 7.5 175 5/10 1.4 LX auto 269 995 74 135 13.2 166 6.0 142 6/10 and much more. Pricey, but if you’re a yummy
1.4L T 4x4 Limited 541 900 125 250 8.8 196 6.9 160 6/10 1.4 EX 267 995 74 135 11.5 176 5.8 137 7/10 mummy, you’ll want this.
1.4 EX auto 284 995 74 135 13.2 166 6.0 142 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4 Tec 294 995 74 135 11.5 176 5.8 137 7/10 Pure Si4 703 143 177 340 7.9 200 8.0 182 7/10
Compass 1.4 Tec auto 311 995 74 135 13.2 166 6.0 142 6/10 Pure TD4 733 304 132 430 8.9 188 5.3 139 8/10
_. SE Si4 759 743 177 340 7.9 200 8.0 182 7/10
SE TD4 791 504 132 430 8.9 188 5.3 139 8/10

2.4 4x4 Trailhawk

PRICE kW
599 990 129 229
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
n/a 185 9.5 230
Cerato SE TD4 Landmark Edition
SE Si4 213kW
827 404
816 143
132
213
430
400
8.9
7.1
188
218
5.3
8.2
139
186
7/10
7/10
VW-rivalling build quality and design – thanks to
former VW man Peter Schreyer. Rather compelling, SE Sd4 847 404 177 500 7.6 216 6.5 169 8/10
but the range needs forced-induction power. HSE Si4 828 043 177 340 7.9 200 8.0 182 7/10
Wrangler PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
HSE TD4 861 904 132 430 8.9 188 5.3 139 8/10
<HHDQGLQGHHGKD7KH:UDQJOHULVVWLOOEDVLFEXW HSE Si4 213kW 881 143 213 400 7.1 218 8.2 186 8/10
has been around for so long it is now retro. hatch 1.6 EX 302 995 95 157 10.1 200 6.5 154 7/10 HSE Sd4 917 704 177 500 7.6 216 6.5 169 8/10
Five-door is rugged in the Defender vein. sedan 2.0 EX 343 995 118 194 8.5 210 6.9 164 7/10 HSE Luxury Si4 880 543 177 340 7.9 200 8.0 182 9/10
sedan 2.0 EX auto 356 995 118 194 9.3 205 7.2 170 7/10 HSE Luxury TD4 915 904 132 430 8.9 188 5.3 139 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100k CO RATING
HSE Luxury Si4 213kW 921 543 213 400 7.1 218 8.2 186 8/10
3.6L Sahara 658 900 209 347 8.1 180 11.3 263 5/10 HSE Luxury Sd4 971 704 177 500 7.6 216 6.5 169 8/10
3.6L Rubicon
Unlimited 3.6L Sahara
688 900
710 900
209
209
347
347
8.1 180
8.9 180
11.6
11.7
270
273
6/10
6/10
Soul
Lonely when you’re ahead of the curve as proof that looks
Unlimited 3.6L Rubicon 744 900 209 347 8.9 180 11.9 276 7/10 can be deceptive. Updated range packs features and Range Rover Evoque
Unlimited 2.8CRD Sahara 789 900 147 460 10.7 172 8.3 217 6/10 greater engine choice. A Range Rover rebooted for a younger, more stylish
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING audience – it’s a junior-SUV, with 2, 3 or 5 doors.
1.6 Start 318 995 91 152 10.9 182 7.9 188 5/10 One for fashionistas, not farmers.
Cherokee 1.6CRDi Start 339 995 94 260 10.8 180 5.2 137 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
After a leave of absence, the Cherokee is back to do 2.0 Smart 403 495 116 192 10.2 186 7.9 187 5/10
battle with the Discovery Sport. It’s priced well and SE TD4 818 771 132 430 9.0 195 5.1 134 8/10
looks... interesting. SE Dynamic TD4 Landmark Edition 912 671 132 430 9.0 195 5.1 134 7/10
SE Si4 839 246 177 340 7.3 217 7.2 167 7/10
2.4L Longitude
PRICE
636 900
kW
130
Nm
229
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
10.5 196 8.3 193 6/10
Sportage SE Sd4 875 475 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 153 7/10
KIAs are generally good looking. This one isn’t, even after HSE Dynamic TD4 978 771 132 430 9.0 195 5.1 134 8/10
3.2L Limited 702 900 200 315 8.1 209 9.5 221 6/10 the facelift. Very good though so don’t discount it. HSE Dynamic Si4 999 446 177 340 7.3 217 7.2 167 7/10
3.2L 4x4 Limited 763 900 200 315 8.1 209 10.0 232 7/10 HSE Dynamic Sd4 1 035 375 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 153 8/10
3.2L 4x4 Trailhawk 798 900 200 315 8.4 180 10.0 232 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING HSE Dynamic Si4 213kW 1 047 305 213 400 6.4 231 7.6 173 8/10
1.6GDI Ignite 386 995 97 161 12.1 170 7.7 175 6/10 Autobiography TD4 1 058 071 132 430 9.0 195 5.1 134 8/10
2.0 Ignite Plus 396 995 115 196 10.5 186 8.1 183 6/10 Autobiography Si4 1 078 846 177 340 7.3 217 7.2 167 7/10
Grand Cherokee 2.0 Ignite Plus auto 410 995 115 196 11.1 181 8.1 184 6/10 Autobiography Sd4 1 114 775 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 153 8/10
Jeep may be under Fiat’s control, but no-one
appears to have told the Grand Cherokee. 2.0CRDi Ignite Plus 461 995 131 400 9.3 201 6.3 164 7/10 Autobiography Si4 213kW 1 126 805 213 400 6.4 231 7.6 173 7/10
convertible HSE Dynamic Si4 1 059 123 177 340 8.1 217 8.0 185 7/10

FEBRUARY 2019 1 03
 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
L SVAutobiography P400e 3 981 200 297e 640e 6.9 220 2.8 64 8/10
Range Rover Velar L SVAutobiography Supercharged 4 294 111 416 700 5.4 225 12.8 294 8/10
2.5Di Maxitruck Plus 153 999 46 195 n/a 115 7.0 n/a 4/10
Most carlike of all Range Rovers with a sleekness we’ve 2.5TD Loader 173 999 74 238 n/a n/a 9.5 251 4/10
never seen before. Debuts revolutionary Touch Pro Duo SV Coupé POA 416 700 5.3 266 13.8 317 2.5TD 184 999 74 238 n/a n/a 9.5 251 4/10
interior. 2.5TD 4x4 215 999 74 238 n/a n/a 9.5 251 4/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.5TD double cab 216 999 74 235 n/a n/a 9.5 251 4/10
2.5TD double cab 4x4 245 999 74 235 n/a n/a 9.5 251 4/10
LEXUS
D180 1 011 083 132 430 8.9 201 5.4 142 7/10
D180 S 1 096 883 132 430 8.9 201 5.4 142 7/10
D180 SE 1 149 083 132 430 8.9 201 5.4 142 7/10
D180 HSE 1 249 283 132 430 8.9 201 5.4 142 7/10 TopGear on Lexus: Genio
Luxury Toyotas offering remarkable value, but no diesel engines. A hybrid, but not as you know it. Inspired by the
P250 1 015 005 184 365 6.7 217 7.6 173 7/10 Aussie ute.
P250 S 1 100 805 184 365 6.7 217 7.6 173 7/10 We don’t understand why either.
P250 SE 1 153 005 184 365 6.7 217 7.6 173 7/10
P250 HSE 1 253 205 184 365 6.7 217 7.6 173 7/10 ES PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Luxury isn’t about horsepower, according to Lexus. 2.2CRDe 208 999 89 290 n/a 150 7.9 210 4/10
D240 1 079 101 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 154 7/10 %LJLPSURYHGG\QDPLFVEDIÀLQJLQWHULRU
D240 S 1 164 901 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 154 7/10 2.2CRDe Long dropside 249 999 89 290 n/a 150 7.9 210 4/10
D240 SE 1 217 101 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 154 7/10
D240 HSE 1 317 201 177 500 7.3 217 5.8 154 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
P300 1 071 037 221 400 6.0 234 7.8 178 7/10 250 EX 593 300 152 243 9.1 210 6.6 150 7/10 Thar
P300 S 1 156 737 221 400 6.0 234 7.8 178 7/10 300h SE 843 800 160e 221+e 8.9 180 4.6 104 6/10 Classic Jeep-lookalike Indian off-roader. Capable in
broken terrain, but will break your spirit of being
P300 SE 1 209 037 221 400 6.0 234 7.8 178 8/10 driving it everywhere else.
P300 HSE 1 309 137 221 400 6.0 234 7.8 178 8/10
D275 1 144 401 202 625 7.0 218 6.6 173 8/10 NX PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
D275 S 1 230 001 202 625 7.0 218 6.6 173 7/10 Edgy, radical not always logical but fortunately never that dull 2.5CRDe 228 999 79 247 n/a n/a 7.5 199 4/10
D275 SE 1 282 301 202 625 7.0 218 6.6 173 7/10 HLWKHU%HWWHU¿QLVKHGWKDQVRPHULYDOV
D275 HSE 1 382 501 202 625 7.0 218 6.6 173 7/10
P340 1 152 191 250 450 6.4 250 9.4 214 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING TUV300
P340 S 1 237 891 250 450 6.4 250 9.4 214 8/10 300 E 665 200 175 350 7.1 200 7.9 184 6/10 Not on many aspiring motoring lists. Below average
P340 SE 1 290 191 250 450 6.4 250 9.4 214 8/10 300 EX 719 600 175 350 7.1 200 7.9 184 6/10 on everything.
P340 HSE 1 390 291 250 450 6.4 250 9.4 214 8/10 300h EX 792 200 150e 210+e 9.2 180 6.0 140 6/10
D300 1 164 046 221 700 6.5 241 6.4 167 8/10 300 F-Sport 823 500 175 350 7.1 200 7.9 184 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
D300 S 1 249 646 221 700 6.5 241 6.4 167 8/10
D300 SE 1 301 946 221 700 6.5 241 6.4 167 8/10 1.5CRDe 238 999 74 240 n/a n/a 5.4 n/a 4/10
D300 HSE 1 402 146 221 700 6.5 241 6.4 167 7/10
P380 1 180 991 280 450 5.7 250 9.4 214 7/10
IS
P380 S 1 266 691 280 450 5.7 250 9.4 214 7/10
A 3 Series drive too well for you? Then buy this,
it’s worse. In other areas, the IS gives the Germans
Pik Up
P380 SE 1 318 991 280 450 5.7 250 9.4 214 7/10 Mahindra continues to grow in SA after nearly a decade as
a much tougher time. others leave. Unambiguously-named Pik Up has 4x4 option
P380 HSE 1 419 091 280 450 5.7 250 9.4 214 7/10 and carries over 900kg. Not pretty, not complex but that’s
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
300 EX 715 700 180 350 7.0 230 7.5 175 7/10 the appeal..
Discovery 300h SE 753 800 164e 221+e 8.5 200 5.0 117 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
One of the few premium 7-seaters with genuine 350 F-Sport 806 400 233 378 5.9 225 9.7 225 7/10 2.2CRDe S4 194 999 103 320 n/a n/a 7.7 210 6/10
off-road ability. 2.2CRDe S6 246 999 103 320 n/a n/a 7.7 210 6/10
2.2CRDe 4x4 S6 291 999 103 320 n/a n/a 7.9 215 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 G RC 2.2CRDe double cab S10 332 999 103 320 n/a n/a 7.9 215 6/10
S Sd4 991 772 177 430 8.7 207 6.5 168 Rear wheel drive and naturally-aspirated with a lot of 2.2CRDe double cab 4x4 S10 363 999 103 320 n/a n/a 8.1 221 6/10
S Si4 998 224 221 400 7.7 201 9.4 219 7/10 kit, but turbocharged German rivals are still retain
S Td6 1 067 606 221 400 7.7 201 9.4 219 7/10 the superior driving experience. Bold, though.
S Si6 1 115 490 250 450 7.1 209 11.5 263 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Scorpio
SE Sd4 1 148 172 177 430 8.7 207 6.5 168 8/10 300 EX 772 100 180 350 7.5 230 8.0 186 6/10 SUV version of the above. Couldn’t imagine anything
SE Si4 1 148 524 221 400 7.7 201 9.4 219 7/10 350 F-Sport 906 800 233 378 6.3 230 9.4 217 6/10 worse to go vacationing in the bush with.
SE Td6 1 216 906 190 600 8.1 209 7.8 207 7/10
SE Si6 1 242 490 250 450 7.1 209 11.5 263 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
HSE Sd4
HSE Si4
1 284 772
1 285 224
177
221
430
400
8.7
7.7
207
201
6.5
9.4
168
219
7/10
8/10
RX 2.2CRDe S11 305 999 88 280 n/a n/a 7.3 193 4/10
Lexus takes NX and scales it up. However good 2.2CRDe S11 4x4 325 999 88 280 n/a n/a 7.3 193 4/10
HSE Td6 1 356 006 190 600 8.1 209 7.8 207 7/10 the RX is, it will almost certainly be better than
HSE Si6 1 381 690 250 450 7.1 209 11.5 263 7/10 the old one.
HSE Luxury Sd4
HSE Luxury Si4
1 381 472
1 381 824
177
221
430
400
8.7
7.7
207
201
6.5
9.4
168
219
7/10
7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING XUV500
350 EX 959 000 221 370 8.0 200 9.6 223 7/10 Mahindra enters the 21st Century. Not that it’s
HSE Luxury Td6 1 455 506 190 600 8.1 209 7.8 207 7/10 350L EX 993 300 216 358 n/a 200 10.2 234 worth noticing.
HSE Luxury Si6 1 481 290 250 450 7.1 209 11.5 263 8/10 450h SE 1 258 100 230e 335+e 7.7 200 5.7 131 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Range Rover Sport LX 2.2CRDe W4
2.2CRDe W6
299 999
359 999
103
103
330
330
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
6.5
7.4
171
196
5/10
5/10
A prettier Range Rover Sport would have been a *UHDWLI\RXRZQDQRLO¿HOG)DYRXULWHRIGLFWDWRUV
FRQWUDGLFWLRQLQWHUPVEXWWKHQHZRQHGH¿QLWHO\ 2.2CRDe W8 374 999 103 330 n/a n/a 6.5 171 5/10
and global warming sceptics. Makes all the 2.2CRDe W8 auto 403 999 103 330 n/a n/a 7.4 196 5/10
comes with less thuggishness. environmentalists melt.
2.2CRDe W10 419 999 103 330 n/a n/a 7.4 196
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
S Si4 1 129 212 221 400 7.3 201 9.2 211 8/10 450d 1 732 400 195 650 8.6 210 10.2 270 7/10
S SCV6 1 215 257 250 450 7.2 209 10.5 243 8/10
MASERATI
570 1 795 800 270 530 7.7 210 14.5 336 7/10
S TDV6 1 243 806 190 600 7.6 209 7.8 207 8/10
SE Si4 1 185 512 221 400 7.3 201 9.2 211 8/10
SE TDV6 1 254 906 190 600 7.6 209 7.8 207 8/10 LC TopGear on Maserati:
SE SCV6 1 273 257 250 450 7.2 209 10.5 243 8/10 A proper Grand Tourer muscled along by charismatic V8. Cheap, somewhat less sophisticated Ferraris which are a lot more
SE SDV6 1 368 523 225 700 7.2 209 7.0 185 8/10 A sense of craftsmanship includes all the bells and whistles. palatable to non-car people. Who wants a cheap Ferrari? Quite.
HSE TDV6 1 397 406 190 600 7.6 209 7.8 207 8/10
HSE Si4 1 398 112 221 400 7.3 201 9.2 211 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Ghibli
HSE SCV6 1 492 257 250 450 7.2 209 10.5 243 8/10 Maserati builds a BMW 5 Series. It’s available
500 1 892 500 351 540 4.7 270 11.6 267 9/10 with a diesel engine. And, well, they think that’s a
HSE SDV6 1 622 223 225 700 7.2 209 7.0 185 9/10
HSE P400e 1 639 300 297e 640e 6.7 220 2.8 64 9/10 good idea.
HSE Dynamic P400e
HSE Dynamic Supercharged
1 683 800
1 790 435
297e
386
640e
625
6.7
5.3
220
225
2.8
12.8
64
294
9/10
9/10
LS 350
PRICE
POA
kW
258 500
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
5.5 267 8.9 207 7/10
:HOFRPHWROHIW¿HOGOX[XU\DV/H[XVGLVWDQFHVLWVHOIIURP
HSE Dynamic SDV8 1 803 089 250 740 6.9 225 8.7 229 9/10 play-it-safe Toyota. Needs more torque and a better ’box. Diesel POA 202 600 6.3 250 5.9 158 6/10
Autobiography Dynamic SCV6 1 694 157 280 450 7.1 210 10.5 243 8/10 S POA 301 550 5.0 285 9.6 223 7/10
Autobiography Dynamic P400e 1 816 200 297e 640e 6.7 220 2.8 64 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Autobiography Dynamic Superchgd 2 050 935 386 625 5.3 225 12.8 294 9/10 500 2 149 800 310 600 5.0 250 9.5 217 6/10
Autobiography Dynamic SDV8 1 998 989 250 740 6.9 225 8.7 229 9/10 Levante
SVR 2 351 535 423 700 4.5 280 12.8 294 9/10 This Italian Cayenne is a very well sorted oddity,
but the Germans do it so much better. If you desire

Range Rover MAHINDRA exclusivity, well…

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
This is not an SUV. That’s far too common a badge. TopGear on Mahindra: Diesel POA 202 600 6.9 230 7.2 189 7/10
Instead, think go-anywhere luxury car. Or GALC. Truly awful Indian products. Will make you consider something S POA 316 580 5.2 264 8.5 199 8/10
Hmm, catchy. Chinese. Yes: that bad.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100
Vogue TDV6 2 009 506 190 600 7.9 KUV100 Nxt Quattroporte
Vogue P400e 2 207 300 297e 640e 6.8 . Styling looks like a shrunken Land Rover Evoque Nooo – what have they done? The old one was soul
Vogue SE SDV8 2 472 289 250 740 6.9 218 8.7 219 8/10 copy gone wrong from the front, and drives in much SHUVRQL¿HG7KLVORRNVDELWPHKEXWGULYHVEHWWHU
L Vogue SE SDV8 2 577 189 250 740 6.9 218 8.7 219 8/10 the same manner too. than the last one.
Vogue SE P400e 2 401 000 297e 640e 6.8 220 2.8 64 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
L Vogue SE P400e 2 502 800 297e 640e 6.9 220 2.8 64 9/10 1.2 G80 K2+ 134 999 61 115 n/a n/a 5.9 141 4/10 Diesel POA 202 600 6.4 252 6.2 163 7/10
Vogue SE Supercharged 2 540 611 375 625 5.4 225 12.8 294 8/10 1.2 G80 K4+ 163 999 61 115 n/a n/a 5.9 141 4/10 S POA 302 550 5.1 286 9.6 223 8/10
L Vogue SE Supercharged 2 633 311 386 625 5.5 225 12.8 294 8/10 1.2 G80 K6+ 187 999 61 115 n/a n/a 5.9 141 4/10 GTS GranLusso POA 390 710 4.7 310 10.7 250 8/10
Autobiography SDV8 2 819 689 250 740 6.9 218 8.7 219 8/10 1.2 D75 K6+ 204 999 57 190 n/a n/a 4.3 115 4/10
L Autobiography SDV8 2 932 389 250 740 6.9 218 8.7 219 8/10 1.2 G80 K8 199 999 61 115 n/a n/a 5.9 141 4/10
Autobiography P400e 2 738 200 297e 640e 6.8 220 2.8 64 8/10 1.2 D75 K8 219 999 57 190 n/a n/a 4.3 115 4/10 GranTurismo / GranCabrio
L Autobiography P400e 2 847 600 297e 640e 6.9 220 2.8 64 8/10 Muscular but pretty coupé that is more GT than
Autobiography Supercharged 2 887 911 386 625 5.4 225 12.8 294 8/10 sports car.
L Autobiography Supercharged 3 000 611 386 625 5.5 225 12.8 294 8/10 Bolero
SVAutobiography Dynamic Suprchd 3 584 011 416 700 5.1 225 12.8 294 8/10 Favourite of farmers and four-wheelers on a very PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
L SVAutobiography SDV8 4 099 889 250 740 6.9 218 8.7 219 8/10 tight budget. GranTurismo Sport POA 338 520 4.8 299 14.3 331 7/10

1 04 FEBRUARY 2019
GranTurismo MC POA 338 520 4.7 301 14.3 331 7/10 570S coupé POA 419 600 3.2 328 10.7 249 9/10
GranCabrio Sport POA 338 520 5.0 288 14.5 337 7/10 570GT POA 419 600 3.4 328 10.7 249 9/10
GranCabrio MC POA 338 520 4.9 291 14.5 337 7/10 570S Spider *4 850 000 419 600 3.2 328 10.7 249 X-Class
3UHPLXPEDGJHUHÀHFWHGLQWKHSULFHEXWLI\RXZDQW
bespoke engineering go for the V6. The 4-pots are meh.
720S
MAZDA
Proves that science isn’t everything. Larger engine creams PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
power to weight with practicality learned from the 570S. X220d Progressive 646 071 120 403 12.4 184 7.5 198 6/10
X250d Progressive auto 699 200 140 450 11.3 179 7.8 205 5/10
TopGear on Mazda: PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING X250d 4Matic Progressive 701 615 140 450 11.0 180 7.7 203 6/10
The only Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans no lo 720S coupé *7 400 000 527 770 2.9 341 10.7 249 9/10 X250d 4Matic Progressive auto 729 675 140 450 11.8 175 7.9 209 5/10
signature rotary car. * indicative pricing X250d 4Matic Power 796 145 140 450 11.0 180 7.7 203 5/10
X250d 4Matic Power auto 824 205 140 450 11.8 175 7.9 209 5/10
0D]GD     X350d 4Matic Progressive 914 711 190 550 7.9 205 9.0 236 4/10
The last 2 was a sleeper – it never set out to be
sparky, yet somehow achieved it. Same again, Senna X350d 4Matic Power 983 711 190 550 7.9 205 9.0 236 4/10
just with a hint more polish. Like the man it was named after, it’s resolutely focused and
H[FHSWLRQDOO\WDOHQWHG/HVV%UD]LOLDQWKRXJK
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING GLC
1.5 Active 226 600 82 145 9.6 188 5.5 130 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Take one Merc C-Class Estate, add a bit of length,
1.5 Dynamic 242 700 82 145 9.6 188 5.5 130 7/10 Senna POA 597 800 2.8 335 12.4 280 10/10 some height and a pinch of off-road ability.
1.5 Dynamic auto 256 200 82 145 10.4 184 5.7 134 6/10 Et voila – the GLC.
1.5 Individual 256 500 82 145 9.6 188 5.5 130 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.5 Individual auto 270 800 82 145 10.4 184 5.7 134 6/10
MERCEDES-BENZ / -AMG / -MAYBACH
GLC220d 706 010 125 400 8.3 210 5.5 143 7/10
1.5 Individual Plus auto 301 500 82 145 10.4 184 5.7 134 7/10 GLC250 715 087 155 350 7.3 223 7.1 166 7/10
'(+D]XPLDXWR 349 200 77 220 10.9 179 4.4 115 7/10 GLC250d 730 436 150 500 7.6 223 5.5 143 8/10
TopGear on Mercedes-Benz: GLC300 775 391 180 370 6.5 235 7.6 177 8/10
Smaller ones a tad disappointing. Limousines peerless. AMGs GLC350d 886 322 190 620 6.2 238 6.2 169 8/10
0D]GD     charmingly unhinged. The original car company is in fine form. AMG GLC43 1 012 411 270 520 4.9 250 8.7 199 9/10
The 6’s design language moves to the 3. So does
AMG GLC63 S 4Matic+ 1 579 282 375 700 3.8 250 10.7 244 9/10
the handling verve. Besides that we’re less sure why A-Class
you’d have one over a Golf. New A puts comfort ahead of sportiness and adds an
exceptionally fancy interior
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING GLC coupé
hatch 1.6 Original 274 700 77 144 13.0 n/a 6.2 147 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Take one Merc C-Class Estate, add a bit of length,
hatch 1.6 Active 288 500 77 144 13.0 n/a 6.2 147 6/10 A200 500 012 120 250 8.0 225 5.6 128 some height and a pinch of off-road ability.
hatch 1.6 Dynamic 302 300 77 144 13.0 n/a 6.2 147 6/10 A200d 536 000 110 320 8.1 220 4.3 113 Et voila – the GLC Coupé
hatch 1.6 Dynamic auto 314 300 77 144 13.6 n/a 6.9 164 6/10 A250 59 96 16 35 6. 25 6.5 149 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
hatch 2.0 Individual 352 200 121 210 8.3 198 6.2 146 6/10 GLC220d coupé 809 524 125 400 8.3 210 5.4 143 6/10
hatch 2.0 Individual auto 364 800 121 210 9.0 198 5.9 140 6/10 GLC250 coupé 817 277 155 350 7.3 222 7.3 170 6/10
hatch 2.0 Astina 401 600 121 210 9.0 198 5.9 140 6/10 B-Class GLC250d coupé 830 204 150 500 7.6 222 5.4 143 7/10
hatch 2.0 Astina Plus 432 800 121 210 9.0 198 5.9 140 6/10 Clever, re-imagined MPV that should get female GLC300 coupé 878 891 180 370 6.5 236 7.6 177 7/10
sedan 1.6 Original 269 000 77 144 12.8 n/a 6.0 142 6/10 DFFRXQWDQWVLQDWL]]\1HHGVDQ$0* GLC350d coupé 987 028 190 620 6.2 238 6.2 169 7/10
sedan 1.6 Active 282 700 77 144 12.8 n/a 6.0 142 6/10 AMG GLC43 coupé 1 128 825 270 520 4.9 250 8.9 203 7/10
sedan 1.6 Dynamic 296 600 77 144 12.8 n/a 6.0 142 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING AMG GLC63 S coupé 4Matic+ 1 695 291 375 700 3.8 250 10.7 244 8/10
sedan 1.6 Dynamic auto 308 700 77 144 13.5 n/a 6.7 159 6/10 B200 460 258 115 250 8.6 220 5.8 134 6/10
sedan 2.0 Individual 346 500 121 210 8.2 195 6.1 145 6/10 B200 auto 482 525 115 250 8.4 220 5.5 129 7/10
sedan 2.0 Individual auto 359 200 121 210 8.9 195 5.8 139 6/10 B250 551 885 155 350 6.8 240 6.3 147 7/10 SLC
sedan 2.0 Astina 395 800 121 210 8.9 195 5.8 139 6/10 The compact roadster exchanges its 55-series
sedan 2.0 Astina Plus 427 000 121 210 8.9 195 5.8 139 6/10 AMG badging for something seminal, and hopefully
CLA better: 43.
The slippery coupé saloon version of the new
CX-3 A-Class. A mini CLS then. SLC200
PRICE
754 020
kW
135
Nm
300
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
7.0 240 6.6 154 6/10
Because the Nissan Juke doesn’t have enough rivals already.
CX-3 is pretty and drives well, though. SLC200 auto 775 528 135 300 6.9 237 6.1 143 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING SLC300 832 953 180 370 5.8 250 6.2 144 6/10
CLA200 492 513 115 250 8.2 230 5.7 133 5/10 AMG SLC43 1 095 701 270 520 4.7 250 7.8 178 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING CLA200 auto 514 779 115 250 7.9 230 5.6 128 5/10
2.0 Active 299 400 115 206 9.3 202 7.1 165 7/10 CLA250 4Matic 694 455 160 350 6.4 250 6.8 160 6/10
2.0 Active auto 316 900 115 206 9.5 197 6.7 155 7/10 AMG CLA45 4Matic 915 053 280 475 4.2 250 7.3 171 7/10 V-Class
2.0 Dynamic 326 300 115 206 9.0 202 7.0 163 7/10 The artist formerly known as Viano has been doused
2.0 Dynamic auto 338 500 115 206 9.5 197 6.7 155 7/10 with premiumness and given the correct badge at
2.0 Individual 389 400 115 206 9.5 197 6.7 155 7/10 GLA last. Hoteliers rejoice.
2.0 Individual Plus 404 200 115 206 9.5 197 6.7 155 7/10 0HUFHGHV%HQ]EXVWVRXWDQRWKHUJUDYHOERXQG PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
niche, this time by placing its A-Class hatch on stilts. V200d 886 251 100 330 13.6 181 6.1 159 6/10
V220d 926 342 120 380 11.5 195 5.9 154 7/10
BT-50 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING V250d 996 535 140 440 9.1 206 6.0 158 7/10
Ford Ranger’s hideous looking mechanical sibling.
A good bakkie you’ll never grow to love. GLA200 506 663 115 250 8.9 V220d Avantgarde 1 209 427 120 380 11.5 195 5.9 154 7/10
GLA200 auto 529 183 115 250 8.8 V250d Avantgarde 1 253 627 140 440 9.1 206 6.0 158 7/10
GLA250 4Matic 684 643 155 350 7.1
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING AMG GLA45 4Matic 896 718 280 475 4.4
2.2 SLX 452 800 110 375 n/a n/a 7.7 202 6/10 E-Class sedan
2.2 SLE 489 700 110 375 n/a n/a 7.7 202 6/10 0HUF¶VPHGLXPH[HFKDVJRWLWVPRMREDFN6HOIFRQ¿GHQW
2.2 SLE auto 510 200 110 375 n/a n/a 7.7 202 6/10 C-Class sedan UHOD[HGDQGUH¿QHG
3.2 4x4 SLE 555 400 147 470 n/a n/a 9.8 258 6/10 Freshly updated with a new face, new tech and more
3.2 4x4 SLE auto 569 700 147 470 n/a n/a 9.7 255 6/10 powerful engines. C is better than ever. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
E200 749 369 135 300 7.7 240 6.5 149 7/10
E220d 800 500 143 400 7.3 240 4.3 112 7/10
CX-5 C180
PRICE
590 169
kW
115
Nm
250
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
8.3 225 6.5 149 8/10 E250 803 283 155 350 6.9 250 6.3 142 7/10
Better looking than rivals but SkyActiv petrol engines are l E350d 1 013 510 210 640 5.7 250 5.4 143 8/10
ethargic compared to the diesels. C200 616 536 145e 280 7.7 239 6.3 144 8/10
C220d 651 759 143 400 6.9 240 4.8 126 8/10 AMG E53 4Matic+ 1 251 620 336e 520 4.5 250 8.7 200
C300 720 807 190 370 5.9 250 6.9 158 7/10 AMG E63 S 4Matic+ 1 961 806 450 850 3.4 250 9.1 207 10/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING AMG C43 4Matic 960 265 287 520 4.7 250 9.3 213 9/10
2.0 Active 398 300 121 210 10.9 201 6.8 159 7/10
2.0 Active auto 410 500 121 210 10.4 n/a 6.9 160 7/10 E-Class coupé / cabriolet
2.0 Dynamic 423 900 121 210 10.9 201 6.8 159 7/10 C-Class coupé / cabriolet
2.0 Dynamic auto 436 100 121 210 10.4 n/a 6.9 160 7/10 Still has the mouth watering looks with a platform that gives
2.0 Individual 493 700 121 210 10.4 n/a 6.9 160 /10 it semi E-Class practicality. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.2DE Active 482 600 140 450 9.1 n/a 5.3 140 8/10 E200 coupé 765 040 135 300 7.8 240 6.7 151 7/10
2.5 AWD Individual 557 900 143 257 8.8 n/a 7.3 169 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING E220d coupé 813 575 143 400 7.4 242 4.6 119 7/10
2.2DE AWD Akera 586 100 140 450 9.5 n/a 5.7 148 8/10 C200 coupé 669 036 145e 280 7.9 239 6.3 144 7/10 E300 coupé 854 950 180 370 6.4 250 7.0 160 7/10
C220d coupé 703 765 143 400 7.0 240 4.9 130 7/10 E220d cabriolet 928 325 143 400 7.7 237 4.9 126 8/10
C300 coupé 770 048 190 370 6.0 250 6.7 152 7/10 E300 cabriolet 969 828 180 370 6.6 250 7.2 167 8/10
MX-5 C200 cabriolet 797 295 145e 280 8.5 235 6.6 150 7/10
2QFHD¿QHURDGVWHUEXWQRZOXPEHUHGZLWKDXWRDQGKHDY\ C220d cabriolet 865 024 143 400 7.5 233 5.1 136 7/10
URRI0D]GD¶VVXFNHGDOOWKHIXQIURPLW C300 cabriolet 888 807 190 370 6.2 250 6.9 158 7/10 GLE coupé
AMG C43 coupé 4Matic 995 771 287 520 4.7 250 9.5 217 9/10 Mercedes makes a BMW X6. Stupid. Pointless.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING AMG C43 cabriolet 4Matic 1 113 030 287 520 4.8 250 9.7 223 7/10 They’ll sell millions of the stuff.
2.0 RF auto 538 200 118 200 8.6 194 6.7 156 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Vito GLE350d coupé 1 240 086 190 620 7.0 226 7.2 187 6/10
Commercial vehicle from Merc. AMG GLE43 coupé 1 367 204 270 520 4.9 250 9.4 219 6/10
McLAREN
Gets a lot of stuff done whilst making its blue collar GLE500 coupé 1 494 802 335 700 4.9 250 10.9 254 6/10
driver feel quite bourgeois. AMG GLE63 S coupé 2 267 127 430 760 4.2 250 11.9 278 7/10
TopGear on McLaren: PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
111 CDI Tourer Pro 646 063 84 270 15.1 169 6.3 163 6/10
Superior engineering exercise compared to Ferrari, if a tad soulless.
114 CDI Tourer Pro 676 526 100 330 12.8 184 6.4 164 6/10 GLS
114 CDI Tourer Pro auto 710 074 100 330 n/a n/a 6.0 158 6/10 The GLS is basically the bigger, seven-seat version
570 116 CDI Tourer Pro 739 460 120 380 n/a n/a 5.8 153 7/10 of the GLE.
Entry level McLaren ownership starts here. 116 CDI Tourer Select 882 372 120 380 n/a n/a 5.8 153 7/10
6OLJKWO\R[\PRURQLF<RX¶OOKDWH\RXUVHOIIRUEHLQJ 119 CDI Tourer Select 940 587 140 440 n/a n/a 5.8 153 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
too poor to go 720S.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

FEBRUARY 2019 1 05
GLS350d 1 415 003 190 620 7.8 222 7.1 179 6/10 Cooper Clubman 396 633 100 230 9.1 205 5.4 125 7/10
GLS500 1 600 420 335 700 5.3 250 10.9 254 7/10 Cooper Clubman auto 414 833 100 230 9.1 205 5.4 125 7/10
AMG GLS63 2 484 471 430 760 4.6 250 12.3 288 7/10 Cooper S Clubman 479 542 141 300 7.2 228 6.4 148 7/10 NP200
Tough Pretoria-built bakkie with class-leading space.
Cooper S Clubman auto 497 977 141 300 7.1 228 5.9 138 7/10
John Cooper Works ALL4 Clubman 592 337 170 350 6.3 238 7.8 178 6/10
G-Class John Cooper Works ALL4 Clubman auto 618 366 170 350 6.3 238 7.2 164 6/10
The big G returns with completely new underpinnings so PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
it drives likes a modern SUV. 1.6i 173 500 64 128 n/a n/a 8.1 192 6/10
Convertible 1.6i safety pack 194 500 64 128 n/a n/a 8.1 192 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Take MINI and lop its roof off. Quintessentially fun and 1.6 16v mid 203 900 77 148 n/a n/a 8.0 189 7/10
AMG G63 2 613 644 430 850 4.5 220 13.1 299 9/10 alarmingly impractical. Fond memories of a promiscuous 1.6 16v high 237 500 77 148 n/a n/a 8.0 189 7/10
AMG G63 Edition 1 2 913 644 430 850 4.5 220 13.1 299 9/10 time. 1.5dCi safety pack 242 500 63 200 n/a n/a 5.3 140 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.5dCi high 260 500 63 200 n/a n/a 5.3 140 6/10
Cooper Convertible 436 000 100 230 8.8 208 5.1 119 7/10
AMG GT Cooper Convertible auto 457 000 100 230 8.7 207 5.3 124 7/10
Almera
AMG gets serious about hammering Porsche. Cooper S Convertible 512 036 141 300 7.2 230 6.2 144 7/10
'RHVQ¶WTXLWHKDYHD¶V¿QHVVHEXWER\GRHVLW Nissan’s Tiida replacement has arrived. Big on space,
Cooper S Convertible auto 530 759 141 300 7.1 228 5.8 126 7/10 non-existent on style or fun.
make you feel good.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
GT53 4Matic+ 4-Door Coupé TBA 320+e 520 4.5 285 9.1 209 Countryman PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
GT63 S 4Matic+ 4-Door Coupé TBA 470 900 3.2 315 11.3 257 7KH\¶YHPDGHLWELJJHUVWLOOIRUQRUPDOVL]HGIDPLOLHV 1.5 Acenta 221 900 73 134 n/a 183 6.3 149 5/10
AMG GT coupé 2 058 842 340 600 4.0 304 9.3 216 9/10 Tacky interior though. 1.5 Acenta auto 235 500 73 134 n/a 183 7.2 171 5/10
AMG GT S coupé 2 328 490 375 650 3.8 310 9.6 224 9/10
AMG GT roadster 2 320 494 350 630 4.0 302 9.4 219 8/10
AMG GT C roadster 2 744 295 410 680 3.7 316 11.4 259 8/10 Cooper Countryman
PRICE
458 024
kW
100
Nm
230
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
9.6 202 5.9 136 7/10 Micra
AMG GT R coupé 2 839 623 430 700 3.6 318 11.4 259 10/10 0LFUDLVSULFLHUWKDQEHIRUHZKLOHWXUERHQJLQHLVÀDWDURXQG
Cooper Countryman auto 476 477 100 230 9.6 200 6.0 138 7/10 town and looks are divisive.
Cooper D Countryman 488 380 110 330 8.9 208 4.8 123 7/10
Cooper D Countryman auto 506 959 110 330 8.8 208 4.7 126 8/10
SL Cooper S Countryman 533 669 141 300 7.5 225 6.5 149 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Perhaps the best all-round, usable hard-top Cooper S Countryman outo 553 369 141 300 7.4 225 6.5 149 7/10 66kW turbo Visia 242 900 66 140 12.1 170 5.1 115 5/10
convertible on sale today. Practical, fast, excellent John Cooper Works ALL4 Countryman 658 464 170 350 6.5 234 7.8 179 6/10 66kW turbo Acenta 268 500 66 140 12.1 170 5.1 115 5/10
quality and dynamics. 66kW turbo Acenta Plus 283 900 66 140 12.1 170 5.1 115 5/10
John Cooper Works ALL4 Cntrymn auto 684 872 170 350 6.5 234 7.4 168 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 66kW turbo Acenta Plus Tech 299 900 66 140 12.1 170 5.1 115 5/10
SL400 1 527 984 270 500 4.9 250 7.7 175 6/10

MITSUBISHI
SL500 1 884 345 335 700 4.3 250 9.0 205 6/10
AMG SL63 2 615 539 430 900 4.1 250 10.1 234 7/10 NP300 Hardbody
Rugged die-hard workhorse that’s getting a bit long
TopGear on Mitsubishi: in the tooth.
S-Class Once dominant Dakar racing and WRC brand trading on past glories.
Meet the saloon that is single-handedly defending the Pajero Sport’s a rather convincing Fortuner rival, though. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
luxury class from the SUV incursion. S is for sublime. 2.0 229 900 84 169 n/a n/a 10.0 237 5/10
ASX 2.0 mid 247 500 84 169 n/a n/a 10.0 237 5/10
A small crossover that covers a lot of bases. Looks 2.5TDi 263 900 98 304 n/a n/a 6.8 211 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING good and drives well, but a bit vanilla.
S350d L 1 636 615 210 600 6.0 250 5.4 139 9/10 2.5TDi mid 296 900 98 304 n/a n/a 6.8 211 5/10
S450 L 1 638 892 286 500 5.1 250 6.9 157 9/10 2.5TDi Hi-rider 351 500 98 304 n/a n/a 6.8 211 6/10
S400d L 1 707 229 250 700 5.4 250 5.4 139 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.4 4x4 343 900 105 205 n/a n/a 11.1 259 6/10
S560 L 2 066 244 345 700 4.7 250 8.2 186 9/10 2.0 GL 399 995 110 197 11.5 190 7.6 178 6/10 2.5TDi 4x4 377 500 98 304 n/a n/a 8.9 247 6/10
S600 L 2 641 782 390 830 4.6 250 11.6 270 9/10 2.0 GLX 399 995 110 197 9.6 194 7.5 175 6/10 double cab
AMG S63 L 2 794 711 450 900 4.3 250 8.9 203 10/10 2.0 GLX Sport 399 995 110 197 9.6 194 7.5 175 2.4 Hi-rider 373 900 105 205 n/a n/a 11.0 259 6/10
AMG S65 L 3 460 026 463 1000 4.2 250 11.9 279 9/10 2.0 GLS auto 434 995 110 197 11.5 190 7.6 178 6/10 2.5TDi Hi-rider 396 900 98 304 n/a n/a 8.4 233 7/10
2.5TDi 4x4 433 900 98 304 n/a n/a 8.9 247 6/10
2.4 4x4 452 500 105 205 n/a n/a 11.7 274 6/10
S-Class coupé / cabriolet Triton
The S-Class Coupé is Mercedes’ spiked gauntlet in a velvet Conservative equipment for price and limited range
glove. All the power. All the glory. Those sexy lines. for now. Juke
Clever little SUV crossoever that looks like...
well, looks like nothing else we can think of. Very
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING nice if a little odd.
S560 coupé 2 284 661 345 700 4.6 250 10.1 230 9/10 2.4DI-D 489 995 133 430 n/a 179 7.1 187 5/10
2.4DI-D auto 509 995 133 430 n/a 177 7.7 203 5/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
S560 cabriolet 2 508 232 345 700 4.6 250 10.3 235 9/10
AMG S63 coupé 2 946 542 450 900 4.2 250 10.1 231 9/10 2.4DI-D Xtreme auto 529 995 133 430 n/a 177 7.7 203 5/10 1.2T Acenta 321 900 85 190 10.8 178 5.6 129 7/10
AMG S63 cabriolet 4Matic 3 129 515 450 900 4.2 250 10.9 250 9/10 2.4DI-D 4x4 549 995 133 430 10.4 179 7.3 191 5/10 1.2T Acenta+ 343 900 85 190 10.8 178 5.6 129 7/10
AMG S65 coupé 3 443 652 463 1000 4.1 250 14.2 325 9/10 2.4DI-D 4x4 Xtreme 569 995 133 430 10.4 179 7.3 191 5/10 1.5dCi Acenta+ 359 500 81 260 11.2 175 4.2 109 5/10
AMG S65 cabriolet 3 767 468 463 1000 4.1 250 14.2 325 9/10 2.4DI-D 4x4 auto 569 995 133 430 11.8 177 7.8 207 5/10 1.6T Tekna 389 900 140 240 7.8 215 6.0 159 7/10
2.4DI-D 4x4 Athlete auto 579 995 133 430 11.8 177 7.8 207 6/10 1.6T 4WD Tekna 432 500 140 240 8.2 200 6.5 169 7/10
2.4DI-D 4x4 Xtreme auto 589 995 133 430 11.8 177 7.8 207 6/10
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class NV200
Resurrected. Cheap Maybachs. What is the point? S-Class
shows far better taste. Spoil yourself with some options. Outlander Delivery van and shuttle from Nissan. Nice if you
KDYHDJXHVWKRXVHRUNLWFKHQRXW¿WWLQJEXVLQHVV
It’s back, and it’s better than ever. It couldn’t have
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
been much worse really.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Mercedes-Maybach S560 2 489 158 345 700 4.9 250 8.8 198 9/10 Combi 1.6i Visia 378 900 81 153 n/a n/a 7.3 169 5/10
Mercedes-Maybach S650 3 287 942 463 1000 4.7 250 12.7 289 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Combi 1.5dCi Visia 406 500 66 200 n/a n/a 5.1 134 5/10
2.4 GLS Exceed 549 995 123 222 n/a n/a 8.2 192 6/10

Pajero Sport Qashqai

MINI New torquey engine, robust platform and styling that employs
judicious chrome. Not quite deserving of modern status but
1LVVDQVWDUWHGWKH4DVKTDLFUD]HVRWKHQHZRQH
is predictably safe. It’s better than ever for, you know,
TopGear on MINI: family stuff.
functional and hugely spacious.
BMW’s British hatchback a delightful driver’s car with appeal diluted PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
by having spawned way too many derivatives for its own good. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.2T Visia 351 900 85 190 10.9 185 6.2 144 6/10
1.2T Acenta 385 900 85 190 10.9 185 6.2 144 6/10
Hatch 2.4 D4
2.4 D4 4x4
569 995
619 995
133 430
133 430
n/a n/a
n/a n/a
8.0 210 6/10
8.1 214 6/10 1.2T Acenta auto 404 900 85 165 12.9 173 6.2 144 6/10
<HVLW¶VELJJHUDQGQRWKDWLVQ¶WQHFHVVDULO\DJRRGWKLQJ 1.2T Acenta Plus auto 418 900 85 165 12.9 173 6.2 144 6/10
Apart from that, the new Mini is predictably excellent. 2.4 D4 4x4 Shogun 639 995 133 430 n/a n/a 8.1 214
1.5dCi Acenta 418 900 81 260 11.9 182 4.2 109 6/10
1.5dCi Acenta Plus 432 500 81 260 11.9 182 4.2 109 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Pajero 1.5dCi Tekna 460 900 81 260 11.9 182 4.2 109 7/10
One Hatch 3-door 313 000 75 190 10.1 195 4.9 111 6/10 Venerable old school 4x4 with the appearance of a
One Hatch 3-door auto 334 000 75 190 10.2 195 4.8 109 6/10 YHU\G\QDPLFEORFNRIÀDWV
Cooper Hatch 3-door 382 000 100 220 7.9 210 4.7 110 7/10 X-Trail
Cooper Hatch 3-door auto 403 000 100 220 7.8 210 4.9 115 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Platform can be called a beefed up Qashqai but still seems a
Cooper S Hatch 3-door 444 277 141 300 6.8 235 5.9 138 7/10 3-door 3.2DI-D GLS 699 995 140 441 12.0 180 10.1 245 6/10 bit last-gen both in design, tech and materials. Remains a
Cooper S Hatch 3-door auto 463 886 141 300 6.7 233 5.5 127 7/10 5-door 3.2DI-D GLS Exceed 799 995 140 441 12.3 175 10.1 245 6/10 serious, versatile SUV as rivals become doughy.
One Hatch 5-door 323 000 75 190 10.3 192 4.9 112 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
One Hatch 5-door auto 344 000 75 190 10.5 192 4.8 110 6/10 2.0 Visia 397 900 106 200 11.1 183 8.3 197 6/10
Cooper Hatch 5-door 392 000 100 230 8.2 207 5.1 116 8/10 1.6dCi Visia 423 500 96 320 10.5 188 5.1 134 6/10
Cooper Hatch 5-door auto
Cooper S Hatch 5-door
413 000
454 657
100
141
230
300
8.1 207
6.9 232
4.8
6.2
110
141
8/10
8/10 NISSAN 2.5 4x4 Acenta
2.5 4x4 Acenta+
460 900
478 900
126
126
233
233
10.5 190
10.5 190
8.3
8.3
197
197
7/10
7/10
Cooper S Hatch 5-door auto 473 380 141 300 6.8 232 5.4 123 8/10 2.5 4x4 Tekna 513 500 126 233 10.5 190 8.3 197 6/10
John Cooper Works Hatch 3-door 510 795 170 320 6.3 246 6.6 150 8/10 TopGear on Nissan: 1.6dCi 4x4 Tekna 501 500 96 320 11.0 186 5.3 139 6/10
John Cooper Works Hatch 3-dr auto 532 565 170 320 6.1 246 5.7 130 8/10 Bizarre Addams family of geriatric hatches, cash-cow crossovers
and the mind-scrambling GT-R freak show.
Micra Active Navara
Clubman If you distil blandness into supermini form you First bakkie to bring rear coil springs. Excellent gravel
Longest Mini on sale now has conventional front get the latest generation Micra. It does great comfort.
hinged rear doors. Essentially the cooler 2 Series WKUHHSRLQWWXUQV<DZQ
Active Tourer. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.2 Visia 177 900 56 104 13.2 166 5.2 124 4/10 2.3D SE 484 900 140 450 n/a n/a 6.3 166 6/10
2.3D SE auto 510 900 140 450 n/a n/a 6.8 179 6/10
2.3D LE 569 500 140 450 n/a n/a 6.3 166 6/10
2.3D LE auto 587 900 140 450 n/a n/a 6.8 179 6/10

1 06 FEBRUARY 2019
2.3D 4x4 SE 567 900 140 450 n/a n/a 6.5 172 8/10 4 executive 1 498 000 243 450 5.6 262 7.8 178 9/10
2.3D 4x4 LE 626 500 140 450 n/a n/a 6.5 172 8/10 4S 1 588 000 324 550 4.4 289 8.2 186 8/10
2.3D 4x4 LE auto 647 500 140 450 n/a n/a 7.0 186 8/10
PEUGEOT 4S executive
4 e-hybrid
1 823 000
1 755 000
324
340e
550
700e
4.5
4.6
289
278
8.2
2.5
187
56
9/10
7/10
TopGear on Peugeot: 4 e-hybrid executive 1 879 000 340e 700e 4.7 278 2.5 56 7/10
370Z Chassis-makers have rediscovered their mojo with 208 GTi and RCZ GTS 2 055 000 338 620 4.1 292 10.3 235 8/10
Roguish Z still looks great and responds like a throwback to turbo 2 481 000 404 770 3.8 306 9.4 214 9/10
all motoring’s essential ingredients. Modest changes, same R, and the 308 is a sober revelation. Now do the Onyx, please.
turbo executive 2 684 000 404 770 3.9 306 9.4 215 9/10
power but with rev-match s. 208 turbo S e-hybrid 2 931 000 500e 850e 3.4 310 2.9 66 10/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Congratulations Peugeot, it’s only taken you turbo S e-hybrid executive 3 134 000 500e 850e 3.5 310 2.9 66 10/10
coupé 705 700 245 363 5.3 250 10.5 248 7/10 25 years to reimagine the 205. 208 is light, likeable Sport Turismo
coupé auto 726 800 245 363 5.6 250 10.4 245 7/10 and French. In a good way. 4 Sport Turismo 1 467 160 243 450 5.5 259 7.8 178 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 4S Sport Turismo 1 703 160 324 550 4.4 286 8.2 187 9/10
1.2 Active 204 900 60 118 12.2 175 4.3 99 6/10 4 e-hybrid Sport Turismo 1 832 160 340e 700e 4.6 275 2.6 59 9/10
Patrol pick-up 1.2 Allure 235 900 60 118 12.2 175 4.5 103 7/10 GTS Sport Turismo 2 134 160 338 620 4.1 289 10.6 242 10/10
Agricultural up front and agricultural at the rear. Use it smartly 1.2T GT Line 276 900 81 205 9.6 190 4.5 104 6/10 turbo Sport Turismo 2 558 160 404 770 3.8 304 9.4 215 9/10
and you’ll make all your money back and more. 1.2T GT Line auto 286 900 81 205 9.8 190 4.5 104 6/10 turbo S e-hybrid Sport Turismo 3 009 160 500e 850e 3.4 310 3.0 69 9/10

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

3.0TD pick-up 645 500 110 371 n/a n/a 10.9 289 6/10 2008 911
High-rise supermini that’s increasingly popular in Styling is evolutionary and cabin shared with
the wake of the Juke. A little mash-up which just Panamera, but this is Porsche proving it’s the
Patrol about works. world’s best sports car builder.
Uncomplicated 7-seater with grunty V8 normally aspirated PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
HQJLQHDQGUXJJHGFKDVVLV:DQWVWRWDSLQWRWKDWSUR¿WDEOH 1.6HDi Active 291 900 68 230 11.5 181 4.0 103 7/10 new generation:
Land Cruiser 200 market. 1.6HDi Allure 322 900 68 230 11.5 181 4.0 103 8/10 Carrera S coupé 1 708 000 331 530 3.7 308 8.9 205 10/10
1.2T Active 307 900 81 205 10.3 188 5.2 124 7/10 Carrera 4S coupé 1 797 000 331 530 3.6 306 9.0 206 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.2T Allure 333 900 81 205 10.3 188 5.2 124 Carrera S cabriolet 1 874 000 331 530 3.9 306 9.0 207 9/10
5.6 V8 LE Premium 1 421 200 298 560 n/a 210 14.4 334 7/10 1.2T Allure auto 343 900 81 205 10.1 188 5.2 124 8/10 Carrera 4S cabriolet 1 964 000 331 530 3.8 304 9.1 208 9/10
1.2T GT Line auto 358 900 81 205 10.1 188 5.2 124 7/10 previous generation:
Carrera GTS coupé 1 768 000 331 550 3.7 310 8.3 188 10/10
GT-R Carrera 4 GTS coupé 1 892 000 331 550 3.6 308 8.5 192 10/10
Cheap at twice the price, the GT-R is an uber-techy, 308 Carrera GTS cabriolet 1 914 000 331 550 3.8 308 8.4 190 10/10
violently capable, ruthlessly rapid speed machine. Despite some pet peeves, the 308 has outstanding ride Carrera 4 GTS cabriolet 2 039 000 331 550 3.7 306 8.7 196 10/10
Just drive one. control and insulation but limited range. targa 4 GTS 2 039 000 331 550 3.7 306 8.7 196 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING GT3 touring 2 877 000 368 460 3.9 316 12.9 290 9/10
Premium Edition 2 235 300 408 632 2.9 315 11.7 275 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING GT3 2 877 000 368 460 3.4 318 12.7 288 10/10
Black Edition 2 338 400 408 632 2.9 315 11.7 275 9/10 1.2T Allure 334 900 96 230 10.3 206 4.8 110 7/10 GT3 RS 3 369 000 383 470 3.2 312 12.8 291 9/10
1.2T Allure auto 369 900 96 230 9.8 206 5.2 119 7/10

3008
OPEL Cabin is a genuine Audi-beater and probably the car that
allows Peugeot SA to rebuild from ruins.
RENAULT
TopGear on Opel: TopGear on Renault:
Regarded (alongside Ford) as perennial alternatives to Volkswagen Still a pervading sense of flimsiness about Renaults. We hope the
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
and Toyota offerings, with excitement levels somewhere in between. ageing RS Mégane isn’t the end of an era.
1.2T Active Limited Edition 378 900 96 230 10.6 188 5.5 124
Adam 1.6T Active
1.6T Allure
424 900
470 900
121
121
240
240
8.9 201
8.9 201
7.0
7.0
156
156
7/10
8/10
Kwid
They called it the Adam. They should have called it Turns a blind eye to safety and focuses on Bluetooth,
the Cheryl. Cute, but short of panache. 2.0HDi Active 439 900 110 370 8.9 201 5.0 136 7/10 space and peppy engine
Blame its upbringing. 2.0HDi Allure 491 900 110 370 8.9 201 5.0 136 7/10
1.6T GT Line 532 900 121 240 8.9 201 7.0 156 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.0T 233 733 85 170 9.9 196 5.1 119 6/10 1.0 Expression 132 500 50 91 n/a 152 4.7 112 5/10
1.0T Jam 271 721 85 170 9.9 196 5.1 119 6/10 1.0 Dynamique 143 500 50 91 n/a 152 4.7 112 6/10
1.0 Dynamique auto 153 500 50 91 n/a 152 4.4 104 6/10

Corsa PORSCHE 1.0 Climber 153 500 50 91 n/a 152 4.7 112 6/10

/RYHO\OLWWOHOLWUHWXUERYHU\UH¿QHGDQGYDVWO\ TopGear on Porsche:

improved all around. Maybe it’s time to get into an Irritatingly great to drive, even when it’s a 4x4. There’s a reason Sandero
Opel after all? every sports car is dubbed “911-fighter”… Far prettier than before. Still spacious, indestructible
and sold at a cheap price.
1.0T
PRICE
240 690
kW
66
Nm
170
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
11.9 180 4.6 107 6/10
718 Cayman
7XUERFKDUJHGQDWXUHHDVLO\IRUJLYHQEHFDXVHLW¶VDÀDW PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.0T Enjoy 249 900 66 170 11.9 180 4.6 107 6/10 four, hence the classic racer name. Buyer’s remorse an
1.4 Enjoy auto 254 582 66 130 13.9 171 6.0 139 5/10 66kW turbo Expression 179 900 66 135 11.1 169 5.2 119 6/10
unknown concept with these. Stepway 66kW turbo Expression 193 900 66 135 11.1 168 5.4 124 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Stepway 66kW turbo Plus 213 900 66 135 11.1 168 5.4 124 7/10
Crossland X 718 Cayman 870 000 220 380 4.9 275 6.9 158 7/10
Co-developed with the more exciting Peugeot 2008, this is 718 Cayman S 950 000 257 420 4.4 285 7.3 167 8/10
plain for the undemanding driver. 718 Cayman GTS 1 122 000 269 430 4.3 290 8.2 186 10/10 Clio
A return to form for Renault. Clio 4 is good-looking
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
and drives well.
1.2 294 638 60 118 14.0 170 5.1 115 6/10 718 Boxster
1.2 Turbo Enjoy 338 355 81 205 10.6 188 4.8 109 6/10 Best roadster you can buy. And yes, that includes F-Type. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.2 Turbo Enjoy auto 348 450 81 205 11.8 187 5.4 123 1RZZLWKERRVWHGÀDWIRXUHQJLQHVKHQFHWKHKLVWRULFDOO\ 66kW turbo Authentique 223 900 70 150 12.9 178 5.5 105 6/10
1.2 Turbo Cosmo auto 400 537 81 205 11.8 187 5.4 123 6/10 referenced name change to 718. 66kW turbo Expression 241 900 70 150 12.9 178 5.5 105 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
66kW turbo Dynamique 259 900 70 150 12.9 178 5.5 105 7/10
718 Boxster 884 000 220 380 4.9 275 6.9 158 9/10 88kW turbo Expression auto 283 900 88 190 9.4 199 5.2 120 6/10
Astra 718 Boxster S 965 000 257 420 4.4 285 7.3 167 9/10 RS 18 F1 459 900 162 280 6.6 235 5.9 135 8/10
Superb onboard connectivity and comprehensively 718 Boxster GTS 1 137 000 269 430 4.3 290 8.2 186 9/10
engineered as only Germans can. Problem is: no diesels.
Duster
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Macan 2XUEXGJHWDSRFDO\SWLFVXUYLYDOWRRO$IHZUH¿QHPHQWVLQ
quality and spec and more roomy than an EcoSport. .
1.0T 301 049 77 170 11.2 200 4.4 102 6/10 Porsche’s Range Rover Evoque is a tidy looker that has
1.0T Enjoy 329 409 77 170 11.2 200 4.4 102 6/10 image by the bucket-load.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4T Enjoy 380 030 110 230 8.5 215 5.1 117 6/10 1.6 Expression 255 900 84 156 11.0 167 7.0 162 8/10
1.4T Enjoy auto 391 589 110 245 8.9 210 5.5 127 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.5dCi Dynamique 288 900 66 210 14.8 155 5.1 135 8/10
1.4T Sport 410 210 110 230 8.5 215 5.1 117 6/10 Macan 849 000 185 370 6.7 227 8.2 186 8/10 1.5dCi Dynamique auto 322 900 80 250 11.9 169 4.8 126 7/10
1.4T Sport auto 433 326 110 245 8.9 210 5.5 127 6/10 S 1 099 000 260 480 5.3 254 8.9 204 1.5dCi Dynamique 4WD 327 900 80 260 12.5 168 5.2 138 9/10
1.6T Sport 471 747 147 300 7.0 235 6.1 141 7/10 1.5dCi Prestige 340 900 80 250 11.9 169 4.8 126 8/10
Cayenne
Mokka X Sporting SUV that’s very capable and now better to look at.
Posh interior with driver assistance plucked from Panamera.
Captur
Nice engine but not quite the Corsa crossover Renault has accurately honed this product with wise
we hoped for. Noisy as a beehive over imperfect VSHFL¿FDWLRQDQGHQJLQHGHULYDWLYHV('&JHDUER[LVWKHÀ\
surfaces. in the ointment.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.4 Turbo Enjoy 360 980 103 200 9.8 195 6.0 139 5/10 Cayenne 1 142 000 250 450 6.2 245 9.2 209 8/10 N:WXUER%OD]H 246 900 66 135 12.9 171 5.4 125 7/10
1.4 Turbo Enjoy auto 373 181 103 200 10.7 191 6.6 154 5/10 S 1 296 000 324 550 5.2 265 9.4 213 9/10 66kW turbo Dynamique 293 900 66 135 12.9 171 5.4 125 6/10
1.4 Turbo Cosmo 409 782 103 200 9.8 195 6.0 139 5/10 e-hybrid 1 690 000 340e 700e 5.0 253 3.4 78 9/10 66kW dCi Dynamique 320 900 66 220 13.1 171 3.6 95 6/10
1.4 Turbo Cosmo auto 421 786 103 200 10.7 191 6.6 154 5/10 turbo 2 158 000 404 770 4.1 286 11.9 272 9/10 88kW turbo Dynamique 320 900 88 205 9.9 182 5.5 125 7/10
88kW turbo Dynamique auto 336 900 88 190 10.9 192 5.4 125 6/10
Grandland X Panamera
Opel’s SUV uses the Peugeot 3008 platform to lesser effect.
Comfy, safe and packed with tech, but so very dull.
Fresh platform, bi-turbo engines, spectacular cabin
and much less awful-looking. German autobahn
Mégane
VWRUPHUVFRPHQR¿QHU Beyond the C-design lights there’s a very comfy
FDELQDQGSDUWLFXODUFOHYHU¿UVWLQFODVVIRXUZKHHO
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING steer system too.
1.6 Turbo 441 870 121 240 n/a n/a 7.0 156 5/10 Panamera 1 361 000 243 450 5.7 264 7.5 171 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.6 Turbo Enjoy 478 950 121 240 n/a n/a 7.0 156 5/10 4 1 390 000 243 450 5.5 262 7.7 175 9/10
1.6 Turbo Cosmo 565 000 121 240 n/a n/a 7.0 156 5/10 84kW Expression 279 900 84 156 12.2 191 6.4 144 6/10
97kW Dynamique 323 900 97 205 10.6 197 5.3 119 7/10

FEBRUARY 2019 1 07
97kW Dynamique auto 354 900 97 205 10.3 199 5.4 122 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
RS 280 Lux 569 900 205 390 5.8 250 7.0 158
RS 280 Cup 569 900 205 390 5.8 255 7.2 163 2.0i 400 900 115 196 10.4 194 7.3 168 6/10 Baleno
2.0i-S ES 459 000 115 196 10.4 194 7.3 168 6/10 Not much imagination was used here but deathly sensible.

Forester
ROLLS-ROYCE
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
/DFNVWKHSXQFKDQGWKHSL]D]]:LOOFOLPERXWRID
bigger-than-average hole on the way to school. 1.4 GL 207 900 68 130 10.9 175 5.1 120 5/10
1.4 GLX 239 900 68 130 10.9 175 5.1 120 6/10
TopGear on Rolls-Royce: 1.4 GLX auto 254 900 68 130 11.6 160 5.4 128 6/10
Wheeled pleasure-yachts that’ve seen off the challenge of Maybach, PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
and offer more charm than Bentley. 2.0i 429 000 115 196 10.3 n/a 7.6 176 6/10
Ghost 2.0i-L ES 469 000 115 196 10.3 n/a 7.6 176 6/10 Jimny
2.0i-S ES 499 000 115 196 10.3 n/a 7.6 176 6/10 Retro done right. The low safety score is a concern but
A cut-price Rolls? Not really. Luxury still here by the you’re unlikely to go fast enough to hurt anything.
decanter-load. And don’t think it’s ‘small’ – parking
will still be a skilled process. Outback PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING More of the unfashionable same from Subaru, but that’s 1.5 GA AllGrip 264 900 75 130 12.0 145 6.3 146 9/10
Ghost POA 420 780 4.9 250 14.0 327 8/10 ZKDWWKHRZQHUVORYH1HZRQHLVKDQGLO\VL]HG9HU\FDSDEOH 1.5 GLX AllGrip 299 900 75 130 12.0 145 6.3 146 8/10
Black Badge POA 450 840 4.8 250 14.6 333 8/10 1.5 GLX AllGrip auto 319 900 75 130 12.0 145 6.8 158 7/10
Extended Wheelbase POA 420 780 5.0 250 14.1 329 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.5i-S ES Premium 596 700 129 235 10.2 n/a 7.3 167 5/10

Wraith
3.6 R-S ES Premium 668 100 191 350 7.6 n/a 9.9 230 5/10 Vitara
This one caught us rather by surprise. Vitara is a
If the Grand Tourer still existed, this is how the perfectly good alternative to Qashqai or Juke.
aristocracy would get to Vienna. A majestic Legacy :HOOGRQH6X]XNL
symbol of Britain. Heroically pointless. Naturally aspirated 3.6-litre
ÀDWVL[KDVQRYHOW\DSSHDOIRUWKRVHWRRSRRUWR PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING afford any of the 911s. 1.6 GL 281 900 86 151 11.5 180 5.8 136 7/10
Wraith POA 465 800 4.6 250 14.0 327 9/10 1.6 GL+ 318 900 86 151 11.5 180 5.8 136 7/10
Black Badge POA 465 870 4.5 250 14.6 333 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.6 GL+ auto 337 900 86 151 n/a n/a 6.0 139 7/10
3.6 R-S ES Premium 637 500 191 350 7.2 n/a 9.9 230 5/10 1.6 GLX auto 359 900 86 151 n/a n/a 6.0 139 7/10
1.6 GLX AllGrip 374 900 86 151 12.0 180 6.2 145 7/10
Dawn WRX
5RRÀHVV:UDLWKZLWKQHZVXUIDFHFRPSRQHQWU\
Now that the Evo is dead, the WRX grows up and
Has more presence by itself than an entire motorcade.
becomes a lot easier to live with. Boy racers Grand Vitara
everywhere throw a tantrum. Looks like an off-roader but doesn’t go like one, or
feel as well-built as it should. Would rarely top your
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING shopping list. Low range helps, though.
Dawn POA 420 780 4.9 250 14.2 330 8/10 WRX Premium 581 400 197 350 6.0 240 9.2 213 6/10
Black Badge POA 442 840 4.9 250 14.7 337 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
WRX ES Premium 631 400 197 350 6.3 240 8.6 199 6/10 2.4 Dune 391 900 122 225 11.7 180 8.9 212 3/10
WRX STi Premium 770 100 221 407 5.2 255 10.4 242 7/10 2.4 Summit 465 900 122 225 11.7 180 8.9 212 3/10
Cullinan WRX STi 30 Diamond Edition 799 000 260 464 5.0 255 11.1 242 8/10 2.4 Summit auto 485 900 122 225 12.0 170 9.9 234 4/10
Better looking the metal, honest. If you’re looking for a
statement car, this is it.

Cullinan
PRICE
POA
kW
420 850
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
5.2 250 15.0 341 10/10
SUZUKI TATA
TopGear on Suzuki: TopGear on Tata:
Jimny and Swift Sport the only character highlights from a brand
Conceived in a country where the traffic is designed to kill you, for
Phantom desperately in need of turbocharging.
people who have only recently upgraded from scooters.
Faster, quieter and more opulent than ever, new Phantom is a
luxury land-yacht that drives as well as it soothes. Celerio Bolt
Avoid the AMT version because this bigger bumpered, Ambitious, though ironic, name for a 66kW hatch.
newer looking Celerio exceeds those budget blues. Part of Tata’s Falcon development programme.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Best wait for the Eagle version.
Phantom POA 420 900 5.3 250 13.9 318 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Extended Wheelbase POA 420 900 5.4 250 13.9 319 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.0 GA 139 900 50 90 14.0 155 4.7 110 6/10 hatch 1.2T XMS 159 995 66 140 n/a n/a 6.5 154 3/10
1.0 GL 156 900 50 90 14.0 155 4.7 110 6/10 hatch 1.2T XT 169 995 66 140 n/a n/a 6.5 154 3/10
1.0 GL auto 170 900 50 90 14.0 155 4.6 108 6/10
SMART
sedan 1.2T XMS 169 995 66 140 n/a n/a 6.5 154 3/10
sedan 1.2T XT 179 995 66 140 n/a n/a 6.5 154 3/10
TopGear on Smart: Swift
By not trying too hard, this no-nonsense supermini
TOYOTA
Best-yet execution of a flawed idea. We’ll have the cheaper, succeeds in being really rather good.
mechanically identical Twingo, thanks.
fortwo PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING TopGear on Toyota:
A doddle to park, a delight around town, but what 1.2 GA 160 900 61 113 12.0 170 4.9 116 7/10 Maker of many boring things. And the 86. Which is so good, it almost
on earth was Smart thinking when it signed off 1.2 GL 177 900 61 113 12.0 170 4.9 116 8/10 makes up for the rest of the range.
the design? 1.2 GL auto 191 900 61 113 13.5 165 4.9 116 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Aygo
coupé 52kW base 176 434 52 91 14.4 151 4.1 93 5/10 Facelifted city car still looks like it’s trying to be one
coupé 52kW passion 196 105 52 91 14.4 151 4.1 93 5/10 DZire of the X-Men. Still cheap, still good around town.
coupé 52kW prime 205 184 52 91 14.4 151 4.1 93 5/10 Now a standalone model which doesn’t actually change
coupé 66kW passion 206 698 66 135 n/a n/a 4.2 98 much since it’s still an uglier Swift with a bigger boot. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
coupé 66kW prime 216 885 66 135 n/a n/a 4.2 98 1.0 171 900 53 93 13.8 160 4.3 97 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.0 X-Cite 198 900 53 93 13.8 160 4.3 97 8/10
1.2 GA 161 900 61 113 11.7 175 4.9 116 7/10
forfour 1.2 GL 178 900 61 113 11.7 175 4.9 116 8/10 Etios
Same front end as the car above. Concerning. 1.2 GL auto 192 900 61 113 13.2 170 4.9 116 6/10 $Q,QGLDQEXLOWUHLQFDUQDWHG7D]]ZLWKDZLOOLQJ
Otherwise, it’s a decent city car. But your eyes hurt. unsophisticated and unbreakable engine.
Horrid design.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Ignis PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
52kW base 181 478 52 91 15.9 151 4.2 97 5/10 2KORRNDQRWKHUVPDOO6X]XNLWKDWFORDNVXVXDO hatch 1.5 Xi 179 500 66 132 11.3 165 6.0 138 3/10
52kW passion 201 149 52 91 15.9 151 4.2 97 5/10 underpinnings in a retro look. They’ve botched the steering. hatch 1.5 Sprint 185 000 66 132 11.3 165 6.0 138 5/10
52kW prime 212 750 52 91 15.9 151 4.2 97 5/10 sedan 1.5 Xi 188 300 66 132 11.3 165 5.9 136 3/10
66kW base 212 246 66 135 11.9 165 4.2 98 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING sedan 1.5 Sprint 193 300 66 132 11.3 165 5.9 136 5/10
66kW passion 231 917 66 135 11.9 165 4.2 98 6/10 1.2 GL 176 900 61 113 11.6 165 5.1 119 6/10 Cross 1.5 Xs 207 800 66 132 11.3 165 6.0 138 4/10
66kW prime 243 518 66 135 11.9 165 4.2 98 6/10 1.2 GLX 196 900 61 113 11.6 165 5.1 119 6/10
1.2 GLX auto 211 900 61 113 13.0 155 4.9 114 6/10
Corolla Quest
Here is last year’s Corolla for B-segment money.
Ertiga
SUBARU 7KLQNRILWDV6X]XNL¶VULYDOWRWKH7R\RWD$YDQ]D
and you’ve got it. But do you want it?
Smart.

TopGear on Subaru: PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

Ex-WRC legend rebuilding its brand with chunky, rugged 4x4s. 1.6 222 900 90 154 10.5 195 6.6 157 4/10
Rally heritage lives on in old-skool WRX. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.6 auto 239 700 90 154 11.1 185 6.3 150 4/10
1.4 GA 204 900 70 130 n/a n/a 6.2 147 5/10 1.6 Plus 240 200 90 154 10.5 195 6.6 157 4/10
,PSUH]D     1.4 GL 230 900 70 130 n/a n/a 6.2 147 5/10
Has all-wheel drive as a safety USP but that has its own 1.4 GL auto 247 900 70 130 n/a n/a 6.2 147 4/10
drawbacks in weight and cost. Rejoice in a modern <DULV    
touchscreen. We’re surprised it’s still around and latest changes don’t
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
&LD]     salvage much excitement from old-fashioned components.
It’s a bit bigger than a Swift sedan, but then that’s
2.0i 380 500 115 196 9.8 208 7.2 165 5/10 not saying much. And then there’s the silly name.
2.0i-S ES 437 600 115 196 9.8 208 7.2 165 5/10 Move along.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.5 Xi 240 100 79 140 n/a 180 5.9 136 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 1.5 Xs 263 600 79 140 n/a 180 5.9 136 5/10
XV 1.4 GL 212 900 70 130 n/a n/a 5.4 125 5/10 1.5 Xs auto 279 400 79 140 n/a 170 5.8 134 4/10
Subaru’s halo model. Rides on new global platform while XV’s 1.4 GLX 239 900 70 130 n/a n/a 5.4 125 5/10 Cross 1.5 279 300 79 140 n/a 180 5.9 136 5/10
Eyesight brings safety aids, but not quite revolutionary ones. 1.4 GLX auto 253 900 70 130 n/a n/a 5.5 131 5/10 1.5 S 297 400 79 140 n/a 180 5.9 136 4/10

1 08 FEBRUARY 2019
$YDQ]D     2.0 GX auto
2.2D-4D AWD GX
407 300
491 100
107
110
187
340
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7.4
5.6
173
149
6/10
7/10
1.0TSI GT 258 100 81 200 n/a 196 4.6 109 8/10
Seven-seat cardboard box on wheels. Like an East
German weightlifter – not pretty, but effective. 2.5 AWD VX 545 100 132 233 n/a n/a 8.5 198 7/10
2.2D-4D AWD VX 580 200 110 340 n/a n/a 6.5 172 7/10 Polo sedan
At this rate it will usurp VW’s Jetta, which was good.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING <RXUQH[W8EHU
1.3 S 234 100 70 121 n/a n/a 6.1 145 3/10
1.3 SX 252 000 70 121 n/a n/a 6.1 145 3/10
GT86
A gobbier face, smaller steering wheel and new media PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.5 SX 259 700 77 137 n/a n/a 6.3 150 3/10 system but everything else is wonderfully old school. 1.4 Trendline 213 000 63 132 12.8 178 5.9 139 6/10
1.5 SX auto 279 600 77 137 n/a n/a 6.7 160 3/10 1.4 Comfortline 232 600 63 132 12.8 178 5.9 139 6/10
1.5 TX 296 000 77 137 n/a n/a 6.3 150 3/10 1.6 Trendline 232 900 77 155 11.1 190 6.0 143 6/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
GT86 593 100 147 205 7.6 226 7.8 181 9/10 1.6 Comfortline 252 500 77 155 11.1 190 6.0 143 6/10
1.6 Comfortline auto 268 500 77 155 12.3 187 6.5 154 6/10
Corolla 1.5TDI Comfortline 279 900 81 250 11.2 186 4.9 128 6/10
New Corolla is a return to form for Toyota. Funnish.
Capable. The return of the white-collar king. Prius
,WORRNVWRWDOO\EL]DUUHEXWWKHZHLUGVW\OLQJFRQFHDOV
a well-resolved hybrid. Note the economy: who Polo hatch
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING needs a diesel? A comprehensive little supermini that feels like a smaller
1.3 Esteem 280 100 73 128 12.6 180 6.0 139 5/10 Golf – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
1.3 Prestige 301 500 73 128 12.6 180 6.0 139 5/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.6 Esteem 300 500 90 154 10.5 195 6.6 157 5/10 Hybrid 486 000 90e 142+e 10.6 180 3.7 87 5/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.6 Prestige 321 600 90 154 10.5 195 6.6 157 5/10 1.0TSI Trendline 245 500 70 175 10.8 187 4.5 103 9/10
1.6 Prestige auto 330 000 90 154 11.1 185 6.3 150 5/10
1.6 Prestige+ auto 339 700 90 154 11.1 185 6.7 158 5/10 Fortuner 1.0TSI Comfortline
1.0TSI Comfortline auto
276 200
292 200
70
70
175
175
10.8 187
10.8 187
4.5
4.7
103
107
9/10
9/10
+LOX[EDVHG¿YHGRRUZDJRQQRZZLWKPXOWLOLQNUHDU
1.4D-4D Esteem 315 100 66 205 12.5 180 4.5 119 6/10 suspension and modern drivetrain bits. Odd inside 1.0TSI Comfortline beats 289 450 70 175 10.8 187 4.5 103 9/10
1.4D-4D Prestige 329 400 66 205 12.5 180 4.5 119 6/10 but remains crushingly capable. 1.0TSI Comfortline beats auto 305 450 70 175 10.8 187 4.7 107 9/10
1.8 Prestige 336 200 103 173 n/a n/a 7.0 165 6/10 1.0TSI Highline 298 700 85 200 9.5 200 4.7 107 8/10
1.8 Exclusive 360 800 103 173 n/a n/a 7.0 165 6/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.7 477 600 122 245 12.4 175 10.5 247 6/10 1.0TSI Highline auto 314 700 85 200 9.5 200 4.8 109 8/10
1.8 Exclusive auto 374 400 103 173 10.2 195 6.4 152 6/10 GTI 389 100 147 320 6.7 237 5.9 134
2.4GD-6 496 200 110 400 13.2 175 7.0 184 7/10
2.4GD-6 auto 515 600 110 400 12.7 170 7.9 208 7/10
Auris 2.4GD-6 4x4 auto 542 400 110 400 12.7 170 8.2 217 8/10 Jetta
Many still yearn for a spiritual successor to the RunX. 2.8GD-6 592 500 130 420 11.2 180 7.5 196 7/10 Apologies, we’re struggling to stay awake with this
New is Auris better than the previous one. Looks 2.8GD-6 auto 612 600 130 450 10.8 180 8.0 212 7/10 one. The Jetta is VW’s Golf-based saloon, and is
sharper but lacks identity. 2.8GD-6 4x4 657 800 130 420 11.2 180 7.8 204 8/10 so boring it makes PWC’s AGM look interesting.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 2.8GD-6 4x4 auto 678 200 130 450 10.8 180 8.5 224 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
1.3 X 280 500 73 128 12.6 175 5.8 134 5/10 4.0 V6 4x4 715 400 175 376 9.4 180 12.0 277 6/10
1.6 Conceptline 278 900 77 153 11.7 190 6.8 162 5/10
1.6 Xi 312 400 97 160 10.0 200 6.2 145 5/10 1.2TSI Trendline 314 900 77 175 10.7 194 5.1 117 5/10
1.6 XS 326 100 97 160 10.0 200 6.2 145 5/10
1.6 XR 360 900 97 160 10.0 200 6.2 145 5/10 Land Cruiser 70 Series 1.4TSI Comfortline
1.4TSI Comfortline auto
356 400
372 400
92
92
200
200
9.6 206
9.6 206
5.4
5.2
125
119
5/10
5/10
It’s a tank in every conceivable way, and that’s why
1.6 XR auto 378 200 97 160 10.8 195 6.0 139 5/10 we love it. Truly capable and indestructible. 1.6TDI Comfortline 386 900 77 250 11.7 190 4.7 123 5/10
Hybrid XR 427 700 100e 142+e 10.9 n/a 3.9 91 6/10 2.0TDI Highline 424 900 103 320 9.5 208 5.3 138 /10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Rush 79 4.0 V6 573 200 170 360 12.6 165 n/a n/a 6/10 Golf
A knock-down entry point to SUV ownership. Mechanically 79 4.2D 609 800 96 285 18.0 140 n/a n/a 7/10 Flawless evolution of the indomitable hatch. New assistance
YDQLOODDQGWKHDQWLWKHVLVRIFRROEXWWHUUL¿FYDOXH 79 4.5D-4D LX V8 697 800 151 430 n/a 160 11.6 306 8/10 systems and clean engines will give the competition
79 4.0 V6 double cab 651 300 170 360 12.6 165 13.6 320 7/10 nightmares.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 79 4.2D double cab 682 400 96 285 18.0 140 13.0 343 7/10
1.5 S 312 000 77 136 n/a 165 6.6 156 6/10 79 4.5D-4D LX V8 double cab 765 600 151 430 n/a 160 11.6 306 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

1.5 S auto 326 200 77 136 n/a 160 6.7 158 6/10 76 4.5D-4D LX V8 station wagon 783 900 151 430 n/a 160 11.6 306 8/10 1.0TSI Trendline 316 200 81 200 9.9 196 4.8 109 8/10
1.0TSI Comfortline 337 000 81 200 9.9 196 4.8 109 8/10
1.4TSI Comfortline 390 200 92 200 9.1 204 5.2 120 8/10
Hilux FJ Cruiser GTD 528 700 130 350 7.4 230 5.3 139 8/10
Little bit of black bumper garnish gives Hilux the tougher Old school meets new world in a retro-modern GTI 558 000 169 350 6.4 248 6.4 149 9/10
look to go with new derivatives. Not that sales needed UHPDNH3LW\DERXWWKH]HURRSWLRQHQJLQHDQG R 676 000 228 400 4.8 250 7.2 165 10/10
any help. transmission.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.0
PRICE
259 600
kW
102
Nm
183
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
12.0 170 n/a n/a 7/10 FJ Cruiser 655 800 200 380 7.6 175 11.4 267 6/10 Beetle
A sportier Beetle. Does this make it a cockroach?
2.4GD 294 500 110 343 12.4 175 n/a n/a 7/10 Never mind the retro VW has driver appeal
2.4GD-6 SR 370 000 110 400 13.2 170 n/a n/a 8/10
2.4GD-6 4x4 SR 432 900 110 400 13.2 170 n/a n/a 8/10 Land Cruiser Prado PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.4GD-6 SRX 384 900 110 400 13.2 175 n/a n/a 8/10 New car with antiquated engine and gearbox combo. 1.4TSI R-Line Exclusive 399 900 110 250 8.7 203 5.7 133 6/10
Buyers have a phobia of newness and stick with what they
2.4GD-6 SRX auto 401 700 110 400 13.2 175 n/a n/a 8/10 know. It’s bulletproof and runs on low-grade fuel.
2.4GD-6 4x4 SRX 452 700 110 400 13.2 170 n/a n/a 8/10
2.4GD-6 4x4 SRX auto 471 300 110 400 13.2 170 n/a n/a 9/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Caddy
2.8GD-6 Raider 454 500 130 420 11.2 180 n/a n/a 8/10 3.0DT TX 855 500 120 400 11.7 175 8.5 226 7/10 Since the Golf SV failed, the Caddy is the closest thing to
2.8GD-6 Raider auto 473 200 130 420 13.2 170 n/a n/a 8/10 4.0 VX 968 600 202 381 10.9 180 11.5 266 6/10 a XL Golf. Drives brilliantly, but has a whiff of commercial
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider 520 000 130 420 11.2 175 n/a n/a 8/10 3.0DT VX 970 500 120 400 11.7 175 8.5 226 7/10 rather than family
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider auto 539 000 130 420 11.2 175 n/a n/a 9;10 4.0 VX-L 1 007 400 202 381 10.9 180 11.5 266 7/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Xtra cab 3.0DT VX-L 1 009 200 120 400 11.7 175 8.5 226 6/10 1.0TSI Trendline 313 200 75 175 n/a n/a 5.6 128 8/10
2.4GD-6 SRX 396 400 110 400 13.2 175 n/a n/a 8/10 2.0TDI Trendline 424 900 81 250 12.4 170 5.7 149 8/10
2.4GD-6 SRX auto 413 100 110 400 13.2 175 n/a n/a Alltrack 2.0TDI 436 200 81 250 12.4 170 5.7 149 8/10
2.8GD-6 Raider 482 700 130 420 11.2 180 n/a n/a 8/10 Land Cruiser 200 Alltrack 2.0TDI auto 471 000 103 320 10.6 186 6.2 166 8/10
2.8GD-6 Raider auto 501 500 130 420 11.2 180 n/a n/a This is the South African farmer’s S-Class. Maxi 2.0TDI Trendline 446 700 81 250 12.8 170 5.8 152 8/10
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider 550 200 130 420 11.2 180 n/a n/a 8/10 Maxi 2.0TDI Trendline auto 480 400 103 320 10.9 186 6.3 166 8/10
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider auto 569 300 130 420 11.2 180 n/a n/a 8/10
double cab PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.7 S
2.4GD-6 S
394 700
418 000
122
110
245
400
12.1 180
13.2 175
10.7
7.1
253
187
8/10
9/10
4.5D-4D V8 GX-R 1 042 300 195 650 8.6 210 10.2 270 7/10 Transporter
The ‘other’ VW bakkie range.
2.4GD-6 SR 428 000 110 400 13.2 170 7.1 187 9/10
2.4GD-6 4x4 SR 495 500 110 400 13.2 170 7.3 190 8/10 4.5D-4D V8 VX-R 1 433 700 195 650 8.6 210 10.2 270 7/10
2.4GD-6 SRX
2.4GD-6 SRX auto
442 900
457 600
110
110
400
400
13.2 175
13.2 175
7.1
7.9
187
208
8/10
9/10 VOLKSWAGEN 2.0TDI
PRICE kW
367 700 75 250
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
15.2 141 7.9 208 5/10
2.4GD-6 4x4 SRX 516 100 110 400 13.2 170 7.3 190 8/10 2.0TDI double cab 399 300 75 250 15.9 144 7.9 208 5/10
2.4GD-6 4x4 SRX auto 540 100 110 400 13.2 170 8.2 217 9/10
TopGear on Volkswagen:
Quietly brilliant, thoroughly deserving of every accolade chucked 2.0BiTDI double cab auto 489 000 132 400 10.2 175 8.4 221 5/10
2.8GD-6 Raider 548 400 130 420 11.2 180 7.6 198 8/10
2.8GD-6 Raider auto 567 500 130 450 10.8 175 8.0 210 8/10 its way. The up! and Golf are particular highlights.
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider 616 600 130 420 11.2 180 7.6 199 8/10 up! Amarok
2.8GD-6 4x4 Raider auto 637 500 130 450 10.8 175 8.5 224 8/10 Finally a VW city car you want to own. Neat styling Move from commercial to passenger focus motivates
4.0 V6 4x4 Raider 680 400 175 376 9.4 180 11.7 279 7/10 DQGSDFNDJLQJWRVKDPH,NHD¶V¿QHVWZHOLNHWKHXS a higher class of comfort. New V6 has answered the critics
A lot.

C-HR take up! 1.0

PRICE
171 200
kW
55 95
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
13.5 173 4.6 106 8/10 2.0TDI Comfortline
PRICE
534 200
kW
103
Nm
340
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
13.3 169 7.7 202 7/10
7R\RWD¶V¿UVWWXUERSHWUROHQJLQHEXWFRXSHVW\OLQJ
causes claustrophobic rear seating. move up! 1.0 187 000 55 95 13.5 173 4.6 106 8/10 2.0TDI Comfortline 4Motion 596 300 103 340 13.5 167 7.8 205 8/10
up! beats 1.0 203 400 55 95 13.5 173 4.6 106 8/10 2.0BiTDI Highline 571 200 132 400 10.7 184 7.9 208 7/10
cross up! 1.0 203 400 55 95 13.5 173 4.7 108 8/10 2.0BiTDI Highline auto 590 300 132 420 11.0 180 8.4 221 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.0BiTDI Highline Plus 647 400 132 420 11.0 180 8.4 221 7/10
1.2T 346 200 85 185 10.9 190 6.3 141 7/10 2.0BiTDI Highline 4Motion 627 000 132 400 11.0 183 8.0 211 7/10
1.2T Plus 376 600 85 185 10.9 190 6.3 141 8/10 Polo Vivo 2.0BiTDI Highline 4Motion auto 646 000 132 420 11.3 179 8.5 224 7/10
1.2T Plus auto 388 400 85 185 11.1 183 5.9 135 7/10 7KHEHVWVHOOLQJFDULQ6RXWK$IULFD$ÀDZOHVVSURGXFW 2.0BiTDI Dark Label 4Motion 681 300 132 420 11.3 179 8.5 224
1.2T Luxury auto 434 800 85 185 11.1 185 6.4 144 as it inherits all of last gen’s Polo.. 2.0BiTDI Highline Plus 4Motion 703 300 132 420 11.3 179 8.5 224 7/10
2.0BiTDI Extreme 4Motion auto 736 400 132 420 11.3 179 8.5 224 7/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING 3.0 V6 TDI Highline 4Motion 727 800 165 550 8.0 193 9.0 236 8/10
RAV4 1.4 Trendline 189 400 55 130 n/a 171 5.7 134 9/10 3.0 V6 TDI Highline Plus 4Motion 783 200 165 550 8.0 193 9.0 236 8/10
The latest RAV4 is crisper and sharper than before. 1.4 Comfortline 200 500 63 132 n/a 177 5.9 140 9/10
But it’s still not as funky as it used to be. Where did 3.0 V6 TDI Extreme 4Motion 818 200 165 550 8.0 193 9.0 236 8/10
1.6 Comfortline auto 231 800 77 153 n/a 188 6.1 144 9/10
the fun go, Toyota?
1.6 Highline 225 500 77 153 n/a 188 6.2 147 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING Maxx 1.6 234 000 77 153 n/a 188 6.5 154
2.0 GX 393 800 107 187 n/a n/a 7.7 179 6/10

FEBRUARY 2019 1 09
 S U B S C R I P T I O N

Tiguan V40 Cross Country

SUBSCRIBE
It’s Golf 7 with ground clearance, more space and The Scandinavian hatch gets the rubber and stilts
better styling. VW will need a separate shipping lane treatment. We approve.
to import enough of these.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

TODAY
1.4TSI Trendline 412 000 92 200 10.5 190 6.1 139 8/10 T4 Momentum 492 639 140 300 7.1 210 5.6 129 6/10
1.4TSI Trendline auto 433 400 110 250 9.2 200 6.1 140 D3 Momentum 514 300 110 320 8.5 210 4.0 105 7/10
1.4TSI Comfortline 452 400 92 200 10.5 190 6.1 139 8/10 D4 Momentum 533 200 140 400 7.5 210 4.3 112 7/10
1.4TSI Comfortline auto 494 800 110 250 9.2 200 6.1 140 8/10 T5 AWD Momentum 576 769 180 350 6.1 210 6.4 149 7/10
2.0TDI Comfortline 494 800 81 250 11.2 183 5.2 136 8/10
2.0TDI 4Motion Comfortline 554 700 105 340 9.5 197 6.1 159 8/10
2.0TDI 4Motion Highline
2.0TSI 4Motion Highline
584 700
577 600
130
162
380
350
8.3 207
6.5 220
6.4
7.8
166
180
8/10
8/10
XC40
Volvo’s little crossover majors in what you want from one – Subscribe to TopGear
magazine and pay R405
safety, practicality and funkiness. Job done.
Tiguan Allspace
If the Caddy is too commercial for your tastes, the 7-seater
Allspace is the brightly-packaged Tiguan on steroids.
T3 Momentum
PRICE
509 136
kW
115 265
Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
9.4 200 6.2 144 8/10
for your first 12 issues –
1.4TSI Trendline
PRICE
463 400
kW
110
Nm
250
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
9.5 197 6.5 148 7/10
D4 AWD Momentum
T5 AWD Momentum
624 492
635 266
140 400
185 350
7.9 210 5.0 1311 9/10
6.4 230 7.7 1644 9/10 saving 25%
2.0TSI 4Motion Comfortline 534 300 132 320 8.2 208 7.7 175 7/10
2.0TDI 4Motion Comfortline 579 700 110 340 9.9 198 6.6 173 8/10
2.0TSI 4Motion Highline 604 800 162 350 6.8 223 8.1 185 9/10
S60
$WODVWD%0:6HULHVULYDOWKDW¶VDFWXDOO\D6HULHVVL]H
Good engines, nice interior, but no 3 Series to drive.
Passat
Nothing at all like the one your granddad had. PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
$FULPLQDOO\XQGHUUDWHGDQGWHUUL¿FDOO\DGYDQFHGFDU polestar 807 564 270 470 4.9 250 7.8 1799 6/10

1.4TSI Luxury
PRICE
499 600
kW
110
Nm
250
0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
8.4 220 5.2 122 7/10
V60 Cross Country
Confusingly good compromise between V60 and
2.0TDI Luxury 533 600 130 350 8.2 228 5.0 132 8/10 XC60. More gravel road capable than the former.
2.0TDI Executive R-Line 564 500 130 350 8.2 228 5.0 132 8/10 Cheaper than the latter.
2.0TSI Executive R-Line 564 500 162 350 6.7 246 6.2 143 8/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

Arteon D4 AWD Momentum

T5 AWD Momentum
589 669 140 420
625 772 187 360
8.9 205 5.7 1499 7/10
7.1 210 8.5 1988 6/10
VW’s ‘not replacement for the CC’ kind of is. Looks great but
VWLOOZRQ¶WVHW\RXUWURXVHUVRQ¿UH%XWGR\RXZDQWWKDW"

PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING

XC60
New mini-XC90 will be Volvo’s bread and butter in SA.
2.0TDI Elegance 599 900 130 350 8.7 220 5.6 145 8/10 A calming, cosseting SUV.
2.0TSI 4Motion R-Line 699 900 206 350 5.6 250 7.3 164 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
Kombi D4 AWD Momentum
T5 AWD Momentum
680 324
707 046
140
187
400
350
8.4
6.8
205
220
5.2
7.3
1366
1677
7/10
8/10
The popular people carrier of yore has become a
touch expensive and suffers for traction up inclines D5 AWD Momentum 750 436 173 480 7.2 220 5.5 1444 9/10
fully laden, being FWD only, unlike its RWD Vito rival. T6 AWD Momentum 760 184 228 400 5.9 230 7.8 1777 9/10
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
2.0TDI SWB Trendline
2.0TDI LWB Trendline
562 700
570 700
75
75
250
250
17.9 157
17.9 157
7.3
7.3
193
193
5/10
5/10
S90
Impossibly stylish and beautiful large Swedish sedan.
2.0TDI SWB Trendline auto 596 200 103 340 14.7 172 8.0 211 5/10 <RX¶OOORYHLWXQWLODSHUIRUPDQFHFRPSDULVRQZLWK
2.0TDI SWB Trendline Plus auto 612 900 103 340 14.7 172 8.0 211 6/10 DQ\*HUPDQULYDODULVHVDWDWUDI¿FOLJKW
2.0TDI LWB Comfortline auto 702 200 103 340 14.7 172 8.0 211 5/10
2.0BiTDI SWB Comfortline auto 726 700 132 400 10.2 191 8.1 214 5/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
T5 Momentum 733 869 187 350 6.8 230 6.5 1499 7/10
D4 Momentum 755 500 140 400 8.2 230 4.4 1166 7/10
Caravelle / California D5 AWD Momentum 841 986 173 480 7.0 240 4.8 1277 7/10
Properly expensive, but hugely liveable modern T6 AWD Momentum 901 593 235 400 5.9 250 7.2 1655 7/10
incarnation of VW’s people carrier. With 4Motion, very
much at home getting most places in South Africa.
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
V90 Cross Country
Volvo has taken a chance bringing the V90 CC to SA
Caravelle but it’s one decision we’re very glad they made.
2.0BiTDI Comfortline 911 500 132 400 11.3 191 7.9 208 6/10 Bigger, cooler…an S90 on outdoor steroids.
2.0BiTDI PanAmericana 4Motion 955 400 132 400 12.1 188 n/a 219
2.0BiTDI Highline
2.0BiTDI Highline 4Motion
987 600
1 020 100
132
132
400
400
11.3
12.1
191
188
7.9
8.8
208 6/10
232 6/10 Continue to save 25%
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
California
Beach 2.0TDI 4Motion 917 000 110 340 n/a n/a 6.6 172 T5 AWD Momentum 831 699 187 350 7.4 230 7.4 1699 8/10 with your subscription
D4 AWD Momentum 853 277 140 400 8.8 210 5.2 1388 8/10
Coast 2.0BiTDI 4Motion 1 061 100 150 450 n/a n/a 7.1 185
D5 AWD Momentum 901 404 173 480 7.5 230 5.3 1399 8/10 thereafter
T6 AWD Momentum 961 084 235 400 6.3 230 7.7 176 9/10
Touareg SA’s best-selling car
Underpinned by new chassis stuffed full of tech,
Touareg ditches off-road cred for luxury. XC90 magazine delivered
It’s everything we hoped it would be, and
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
more. Superb safety systems, fantastic tech
and practicality. direct to your door
V6 TDI Luxury 1 024 800 190 600 6.1 235 7.1 188 8/10
Motoring
V6 TDI Executive R-Line 1 140 200 190 600 6.1 235 7.1 188 8/10 PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
T5 AWD Momentum 1 005 184 187 350 8.2 215 7.6 176 8/10
entertainment, latest
D5 AWD Momentum 1 047 169 173 480 7.8 220 5.7 149 9/10
T6 AWD Momentum 1 050 549 235 400 6.5 230 8.0 186 8/10

VOLVO
T8 Twin Engine AWD Momentum
T8 TwinEngine AWD Excellence
1 196 700
1 630 000
300e
300e
640e
640e
5.6
5.9
230
230
2.1
2.5
49
59
9/10
9/10 releases, cool car
TopGear on Volvo: culture and exciting
Far removed from Volvos of old, and far more than just boxes on
wheels. Even though they are boxy.
news in every issue
V40 Regular exclusive extras
9ROYR¿QDOO\SXOOVLWV¿QJHURXWDQGJHWVVHULRXV
about the premium hatchback. We actually want
one of these.
and special editions
PRICE kW Nm 0-100 km/h L/100km CO2 RATING
T2 Kinetic 399 892 90 220 9.8 190 5.6 131
D2 Kinetic 419 900 88 280 10.5 190 4.1 107
T3 Kinetic 426 139 112 250 8.3 210 5.6 129 7/10
T4 Momentum 483 012 140 300 6.9 210 5.5 128 8/10

Start your subscription today

D3 Momentum 496 000 110 320 8.4 210 4.0 104 7/10
D4 Momentum 507 400 140 400 7.2 230 4.2 109 8/10
T5 Momentum 529 351 180 350 6.3 240 5.9 137 8/10

087 740 1043

subs@dhsmedia.co.za
1 10 FEBRUARY 2019
 BARGAIN
H E RO E S
#02
M C LAREN 12C
McLaren’s meteoric rise over the past six years is well
known. The MP4-12C heralded the arrival of McLaren Automotive, and
while the superlative F1 and oddball Merc SLR sit on the family tree, this
was a new dawn. A range of cars, made in numbers, to take on the old
guard.
Things didn’t start superbly. Reaction to the MP4-12C (renamed 12C
partway through its life) was a tad lukewarm, with a bunch of people
expecting the second coming of the F1 left unsated by a car that
appeared to prioritise comfort and usability over prickling your neck
hairs.
But now that cars like the P1, 675LT and 720S have properly
established McLaren in the supercar arena, and guaranteed it’s here for a
long time to come, those early cars are taking on something of a new life.
Some are suggesting they’re collectors’ items in waiting, the ‘McLaren
v1.0’ that will be an important part of sports-car collections of the future.
So the fact they currently start at below R2.5 million (they were
1 12 FEBRUARY 2019
Want the open-top
experience? A 12C
Spider will cost about
10 per cent more than
a Coupe, with prices
starting at R2.6 million
WO R DS: S T E P H E N D O B I E
priced around R3.5 million in the beginning) means the word ‘bargain’
might be more appropriate than it first appeared when you flicked to this
page. It also means the first example of one of McLaren’s Super Series
cars is cheaper than its Sports Series cars start at new (the 540C begins
at R2.8 million).
The 12C’s cleverest trick is how it makes the dark art of driving a
supercar very easy. Skulk under its door before hurdling over the sill and
you might suspect you’re in for a wild and unpredictable ride, but it
immediately dissipates the fear and welcomes you in with a soft and
compliant demeanour and a widescreen view of the world.
It should be easy to live with, too. The engine is described as
‘bulletproof’, and oil top-ups or tyre changes outside of the 12C’s desired
10k-kilometre servicing schedule are rare if you don’t often visit
trackdays.
Better still, the 12C came out at a time when McLaren was nearing
the end of its apex in Formula One, giving it those extra brand kudos.
TRUST

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What
Eat

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You

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PROTEIN
EN TASTE FR
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