CAR May 2021
CAR is Southern Africa’s leading automotive-interest magazine – and has been since 1957. It’s aimed at petrol-heads of all ages looking for, expert reviews, road tests, driving impressions of the latest models available and great motoring content from the country’s leading motoring journalists.
in this issue
from the editor
Greetings CAR readers. Credit where credit is due … we’ve long bemoaned the interminable stream of compact crossovers flooding our market, offering precious little practical merit on top of the equivalent family hatchback or sedan available for equal money. However, as you saw on the cover, this month we have come across a quartet worthy of closer inspection. The Nissan Qashqai Midnight Edition provides the baseline from which to evaluate the super-zhoosh Peugeot 2008, the fresh Mazda CX-30 that takes refinement to new heights and the updated Hyundai Creta that does the same for ease of use and practicality. Which wins out? All will be revealed on page 60. Similarly, we are inundated each month with letters questioning the outlook of electric mobility in South Africa. That, too, is a topic…
seventh heaven
Developed in close collaboration with the Stuttgart-based firm’s motorsport department, the new-generation GT3 lapped the 20,8 km Nürburgring Nordschleife in 6,59.927 minutes, a full 17 seconds quicker than its 991.2 forebear; a miraculous feat achieved as a result of the GT3’s motorsport influences. According to Porsche, the 992 GT3’s high-revving horizontally opposed engine is closely based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R. The seven-speed PDK, meanwhile, was specifically tuned for this application. In the 991.2 the GT3 was available again with a manual transmission, as it is here for driving purists. The double-wishbone front axle and myriad aerodynamic components – including the swan-neck rear wing and diffuser – originate from the 911 RSR racecar. In fact, the latest GT3 does not share any components whatsoever with the 992 911…
generations of gt3
1999 9 9 6 . 1 Engine: 3,6-litre, flat-six, petrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 265 kW @ 7 200 r/min Torque: 370 N.m @ 5 000 r/min Top speed: 302 km/h 0-100 km/h: 4,8 seconds Power-to-weight ratio: 196 W/kg 2003 9 9 6 . 2 Engine: 3,6-litre, flat-six, petrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 280 kW @ 7 400 r/min Torque: 385 N.m @ 5 000 r/min Top speed: 306 km/h 0-100 km/h: 4,3 seconds Power-to-weight ratio: 203 W/kg 2006 9 9 7 . 1 Engine: 3,6-litre, flat-six, petrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 305 kW @ 7 600 r/min Torque: 405 N.m @ 5 500 r/min Top speed: 310 km/h 0-100 km/h: 4,3 seconds Power-to-weight ratio: 219 W/kg 2009 9 9 7 . 2 Engine: 3,8-litre, flat-six, petrol Transmission: 6-speed manual Power: 320 kW @ 7 600 r/min Torque: 430 N.m @ 6 250 r/min Top speed: 312 km/h 0-100 km/h: 4,1 seconds Power-to-weight ratio: 229 W/kg 2013 9 9 1 . 1 Engine: 3,8-litre, flat-six, petrol Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power:…
klasse act
SPIRITED SUSPENSION Fitted with a brand-new four-link axle up front and multi-link setup at the rear, Mercedes says the rear-wheel-drive sedan’s suspension arrangement has been dynamically configured. Rear-axle steering can be specified. Wheels measuring 17 to 19 inches are on offer and feature modern designs. NEW DIMENSIONS Described as “considerably larger” than its forebears, the new C is 65 mm longer and 10 mm wider than the previous-generation model. The wheelbase, meanwhile, has stretched by 25 mm. As a result, Mercedes claims rear occupants have an additional 13 mm and 35 mm head- and kneeroom. ELECTRIFIED ENGINES The W206 C-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz series to feature a fully electrified line-up in the firm’s expansive model range. Each derivative’s longitudinal four has now been equipped with an integrated starter-generator and 48 V tech, allowing for…
lauding legends
Designed in parallel with the T50, Gordon Murray says the target for the T50s Niki Lauda was equally clear and just as uncompromising, “To make the best driver’s car for the track. We asked ourselves what the coolest thing would be to drive on track and create a driving experience like no other car in history.” According to the Surrey-based supercar maker, the track-only T50 is endowed with a substantially redesigned version of the T50 road car’s 3,9-litre atmospheric V12. Linked to a six-speed Xtrac paddle-shift transmission, the Cosworth motor – fed air via a high-performance RAM induction airbox – now directs 541 kW and 485 N.m to the rear axle and revs to a staggering 12 100 r/min. Together with the 400 mm rear ground-effect fan and larger diffuser, advanced…
of noble birth
The all-new rear suspension pairs a top upper wishbone with two lower links and a tie rod in front of the wheel centre. This unique setup maximises stability and reduces understeer. A first for a McLaren, the Artura is equipped with an e-differential for enhanced agility. The Artura’s cabin features two high-definition displays, replete with fresh infotainment software. The first McLaren fitted with the firm’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), it features intelligent adaptive cruise control. Mixed-size, 19-inch fore and 20-inch aft alloys are wrapped in tailor-made Pirelli rubber, featuring Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre system. This tech comprises electronic chips, which relay tyre-specific conditions to the control systems. Stopping power is provided by a pair of 390 mm front and 380 mm rear carbon-ceramic discs. The Artura is powered by a 3,0-litre twinturbo-petrol V6,…
