MOTORING &LEISURE

AMONTHLY SUPPLEMENTWITH THE SUNDAY TIMES OFMALTA – FEBRUARY 9, 2014 – ISSUE 70

MODEL TEST-DRIVE:

DACIA SANDEROSTEPWAY Group test:

OPEL MOKKA, PEUGEOT 2008,

RENAULT CAPTUR•Driving a Ferrari•Classic events•Electric vehicles

U sing gas as an alterna-tive fuel is becomingmore and more popular.since the first installa-tions about a year ago,

the numbers are growing steadily asis the volume of gas being distributedat the three stations that are equippedto supply vehicles with lPG.

this increase is due to a number ofreasons. First of all, the fear of theunknown is gradually being over-come as more people take the boldstep and change to lPG. and if theyare happy with their decision, they

discuss the benefits with family andfriends and act as ambassadors.

the primary benefit is obviously fi-nancial. the installation costs, on av-erage, €1,200 but this depends on thetype of car and the quality of the kityou choose to have installed in yourvehicle. this will invariably beequated to the level of savings youcan achieve over a period of time tocalculate whether the exercise is vi-able or not.

the first initiative is that the Gov-ernment will subsidise this installa-tion and will contribute €200 towardsit. another initiative is that, since theinstallation and use of lPG will dras-tically reduce a car’s emissions, youstand to gain from a reduction in cir-culation tax as the car’s stated emis-sion level is reduced by 10 per cent.this might bring you down to a lowerbracket and hence a smaller contri-bution.

Finally you stand to save on fuelcosts. It seems to be an accepted factthat the actual level of consumptionwill remain consistent whether youare using petrol or lPG. however,what will vary is the price you pay tofill your tank. Gas is roughly half the

price of petrol so effectively youcould be reducing your fuel bill byhalf. Naturally the more mileage youcover, the bigger the savings.

there are a number of limitations.First of all, lPG for cars is only dis-tributed from three stations in luqa,st andrews and limits of rabat. al-though this does cause some incon-venience, you don’t need to worrythat if you run out of gas your car willstop and you will be stranded. thesecars work in a way that they start upon petrol and after a few secondsthey switch to gas. If the gas finishes,the car will automatically switchback to petrol and the trip will pro-ceed unhindered.

the amount of lPG on board is an-other consideration. since this is anaftermarket installation, the size andlocation of the cylinder is an issue.the most common design is in theshape of a wheel and intended to fit inthe place of the spare wheel. this isthe least intrusive but obviously thecapacity is somewhat limited. largercylinders exist but these will have tobe installed in the luggage, taking upspace accordingly.

regarding safety, the tank itself is

of massive construction certified towithstand substantial impact. More-over, the entire system is fitted withnumerous cut-out devices to ensurethere is no escape or leakage.

I had a chat with adrian Montanarowho has carried out over 100 conver-sions and he claims that there is notypical vehicle on which this systemis more popular – he has seen a bit ofeverything. When we spoke he wasworking on a Japanese imported vitzwith an automatic gearbox but I alsoknow of a Porsche Cayenne that wasconverted to lPG and there shouldsoon be a high power BMW X5 thatruns on lPG.

at the moment, this conversion isavailable on petrol engines but therewill soon be developments for dieselengines. this should be of particularinterest for high mileage commercialvehicles. there is also some progressregarding petrol driven marine en-gines. Watch this space.

this editorial is being posted onFacebook – Tonio Darmanin Paq paq –where we invite you to comment onthe issues raised. also feel free to e-mail us your thoughts and opinionson tonio@paqpaq.tv ○

WELCOME

02 PAQPAQ MotorING & leIsUre

ISSUE 70FeBrUarY 9, 2014

www.paqpaq.tvWrite to Paqpaq, with your contact details or send an e-mail as detailed below.

PUBLISHERPaqpaq Productions

296, st Paul street, valletta vlt 1213tel: 7955 9955

e-mail: tonio@paqpaq.tv

PRODUCTION allied Newspapers limited, valletta

For advertising, call 2559 4704 or e-mail: evassallo@timesofmalta.com

PRINTING Progress Press limited, Mriehel.

© 2014. All rights reserved. Reproductionin whole, or in part, without written per-mission of the publishers, is prohibited.

FRONT COVER the new Dacia sandero stepway

STEP ON THE GAS

TONIO DARMANIN eDItor

From road to raceChevrolet has unveiled the Corvette C7.r race car, which was co-developed with the all-new Corvette Z06. the two models representthe closest link in modern times between Corvettes built for racingand the road, sharing unprecedented levels of engineering and com-ponents including chassis architecture, engine technologies and aero-dynamic strategies.

Corvette racing fielded two C7.r race cars in 2014 at the 52nd rolex24 at Daytona. the team is also is expected to compete in June at the24 hours of le Mans – a race Chevrolet and Corvette racing have wonseven times – in the Gte Pro class.

since the team’s competitive debut in 1999 with the Corvette C5-r,Corvette racing has earned unmatched success. the C5-r and C6.rled Chevrolet to 90 victories around the world and 10 manufacturerchampionships in the american le Mans series. In 2013, Corvette rac-ing won five races and swept the manufacturer, team and driverchampionships in the Gt class for a second consecutive season.

a key part of the team’s success is the technology transfer betweenCorvette production cars and race cars. Many of the architectural andaerodynamic features of the C7.r are based on equivalent componentsand technologies from the Corvette Z06. the race car and the Z06share the same, production-based aluminium frame while the addi-tion of direct fuel injection to the Corvette Z06 will enable the tech-nology to return to a Corvette race car for the first time since the endof the Gt1 era in 2009.

the aerodynamic strategies of the Corvette stingray came directlyfrom the Corvette C6.r, including the forward-tilted radiator, func-tional hood, front-quarter panel vents, rear transmission and differ-ential cooling intakes. ○

D acia continues to impress byrolling out yet another variantof the successful Sanderomodel, one that is more in linewith today’s shift towards the

crossover segment – the Sandero Stepway.Since renault took over Dacia, the focus

has been to produce a range of cars aimed at offering excellent value for money,namely renault technology at seriouslycompetitive prices, and doing so withouthaving a negative effect on the value of theprimary brand.

Dacia customers are more interested infunctionality, spaciousness and economy thanfrills and thrills. While other manufacturersfocus on loading their cars with gadgetry andsophistication and think that everybody in themarket is able and willing to pay for this, re-nault found, quite by chance, that there is aconsiderable portion of the population thatlook at the car exactly for what it is: a meansof getting from A to B in a safe, comfortable,economical and reliable way. Hence the mas-sive growth in sales and profitability and the

enormous success in most parts of the worldthat Dacia is registering.

The Stepway is 40mm higher than aSandero hatch and features a chunkier frontbumper with fog lights, a front and rear skidplate, wider wheel arches finished in blackand a set of satin chrome roof bars

Two engines are on offer: a 0.9-litre TCepetrol and a 1.5-litre dCi diesel, both of whichproduce 90bhp and are linked to a five-speedmanual transmission. Both are decent per-formers and offer respectable economy figures.

There is no four-wheel-drive transmissionor low-ratio gearbox available, so off-road ad-ventures in the Dacia are not an option. Still,if you accept these limitations, the Stepway isa pretty decent vehicle to drive.

The Stepway’s ride is much softer than thatof most of its competitors. The forgiving sus-pension soaks up bumps with ease at lowspeeds but gets rather bouncy over high speedbumps. You will also notice quite a bit of bodyroll when negotiating bends, but the decentlevel of grip means you can take bends at rea-sonable speeds.

The steering feels light, which comes inhandy when negotiating tight parking spots.However, like the Duster, the Stepway’s highrear makes it a likely candidate for parkingsensors that need to be fitted aftermarket.

The most impressive thing about the Step-way, however, is the sheer amount of space it

provides. There is plenty of room at the front,while rear-seat occupants will never feelclaustrophobic thanks to lots of headroomand huge side windows. Luggage space – at320 litres – is pretty big compared with thoseof most other cars in this category.

i am currently driving a Dacia Duster as adaily runner and i must admit that i’m ab-solutely blown over by this car. it is obviouslynot the fastest, most luxurious or chicest caravailable on the market. However when youbalance out the long list of benefits Dacia carsoffer for the price, it makes the local snobbishmentality seem somewhat pathetic.

i have covered over 5,000 pleasurable kilo-metres in a few months both locally andabroad, with 100 per cent reliability. it is en-gaging to drive, the diesel engine offersenough poke, is respectably equipped and of-fers loads of space.

While the brand’s ancestral roots do notcontribute to making it the most desirableproposition, driving the car will wipe away allassumptions and will encourage you to take arational, rather than emotional decision. ○

TEST-DRIVE DACIA SANDERO

PAQPAQ MoToring & LeiSure 03

The Dacia Sandero Stepway gets youfrom point A to point B without anyfuss but with plenty of comfort and

reliability, says Tonio Darmanin.

“THE MOSTIMPRESSIVETHING ABOUTTHE STEPWAY,HOWEVER, IS THESHEER AMOUNTOF SPACE ITPROVIDES”

VALUE ADDED

“tHe outGoinG Hyundai i10 was apopular model with maltese buyers,and the challenge of this new gener-ation model is to appeal to those ex-isting value-oriented customers,while bringing enough gains in qual-ity and refinement to be at the top ofsegment a,” said Francesca mamo,managing Director of meridien enter-prises, importers and distributers ofHyundai in malta during the medialaunch event to introduce the newlyarrived new generation Hyundai i10.

“the biggest gains of all betweenthe old generation of i10 and thismodel come in the interior, with itsnew refined and luxurious environ-ment. Where the i10 leaves all its ri-vals trailing is in the amount ofpassenger space it offers – this is acar that could keep four six-footerscomfortable on any journey.

“the new Hyundai i10 represents amajor step forward over its predeces-sor. the i10 is more spacious and re-fined, and it feels significantly classierthan many other models in the samesegment. Like all Hyundai models,the new i10 comes with a five-year un-limited mileage warranty, five yearsof roadside assistance cover and fiveyears of annual vehicle healthchecks,” added Francesca mamo.

Francesca mamo referred to the

recent awards that the new Hyundaii10 model has won.

“after winning the Best City Carcategory during CarBuyer’s recentawards, the new generation Hyundaii10 was named Car of the year 2014.

“the latest accolade was topGear’s Bargain of the year award, acoveted prize awarded to the Hyundaii10 thanks to its ability to provide cus-tomers with small car buying andrunning costs without any of the as-sociated compromises to refinement,comfort and build quality.

“the general consensus by all mo-toring experts seems to be that the2014 Hyundai i10 is a brilliant car, of-fering a real grown-up feel and plentyof space. it is fun to drive and the per-fect embodiment of modern pre-mium, which is after all Hyundai’s

vision. it is the perfect car for thosewho want only the best contender insegment a at a very impressive priceand an exhaustive list of standard fea-tures,” concluded Francesca mamo.

the new model, Hyundai’s first onefor 2014, is now in malta and is beinglaunched at a special introductoryprice of €10,500 until February 15,2014. the new i10 is appealing to theyounger generation due to its sportycharacter, with an option of blue ororange interior. Standard features in-clude air conditioning, power steer-ing, front electric windows, the latesttechnology in braking system such asvehicle stability management and allround six airbags. other extras in-clude heated leather steering wheel,smart card with button start andcruise control with speed limiter. ○

NEWS

04 PAQPAQ motorinG & LeiSure

Small car, big personality

A fast history“120 yearS of motorsport” is the theme which mercedes-Benz Classic hasadopted for 2014. the anniversary stretches back to the first car race in his-tory, staged on a route from Paris to rouen in 1894. the victorious car fromPeugeot and Panhard & Levassor was propelled at that time by a Daimlertwo-cylinder V-engine built under licence in France.

in addition to this actual anniversary event, the outstanding magical mo-ments of 2014 which will form part of the anniversary include a host of fur-ther successes, such as the triple victory for mercedes at the French GrandPrix in Lyon some 100 years ago, the victory at the targa Florio in Sicily 90years ago, the first victory of the first mercedes-Benz W 25 Silver arrow 80years ago, the double victory of the W 165 Silver arrow at the tripoli GrandPrix 75 years ago, and the double victory of the Sauber-mercedes C9 at the24 Hours of Le mans 25 years ago.

With these sporting successes and countless other victories, mercedes-Benz has written history. the brand’s racing cars and drivers put in someoutstanding performances, thereby underscoring the ambition to lead timeand time again.

mercedes-Benz Classic will be continually returning to the topic of “120years of motorsport” throughout the year. it is being adopted as the guidingtheme for its participation in trade fairs and select events making up the in-ternational classic calendar. From march 2014, the mercedes-Benz museumwill also shed new light on the magical moments from motorsport historyon display on the museum’s banked curve in Legend room 7. ○

Eight wondersGerman motorinG magazine Auto Motor und Sport has an-nounced its best cars of 2014. With eight first places, the Volkswa-gen Group was the most successful company in this year’s readers’poll.

this was the 38th time that the magazine has run its best carssurvey. over 115,000 readers took part by sending in voting cardsor via the magazine’s website. each had two votes: the first for thebest car in each of 10 categories and the second for the best importcar in each category. the results were evaluated by an externalmarket research company. in addition to the participants’ replycards being tamper-proof, appropriate protocols also enabled theonline participants to be fully verified.

as in previous years, the Volkswagen brand came out top in thebest cars of 2014 compact car category with the Golf. this bestseller has been impressing for years as the most popular and mostsuccessful car in europe.

in the small car category the highly successful Spanish Seatibiza took the cherished top spot among the import cars. at thesame time the Seat alhambra won the best import mPV category.

the Porsche sports car brand was also rewarded by the readerswith two first places: they voted the Porsche 911 best sports carand made the winner of the cabriolet category the Porsche 911Convertible.

the best mPV title went once again to Volkswagen CommercialVehicles’ multivan. the versatile multipurpose vehicle came outahead of the Volkswagen touran, which took second place in thecategory. ○

T he compact crossover segmentkeeps booming, both in popularitywith customers but also for man-ufacturers who keep channellingresources to produce new models

in the hope of outpacing competitors. it is not that straightforward to find models

that compare directly as manufacturers con-stantly seek ways to make their cars differentthrough unique selling propositions. However,a number of variables are common, at least inthe eyes of the customer. Compact crossoversneed to be relatively small in terms of externaldimensions, offer loads of space and versatilityon the inside, be economical and reliable, offergood value for money and above all, look good.

Having driven the Opel Mokka, Peugeot 2008and Renault Captur individually, my impressionwas that the Mokka was a considerably longercar than the other two. However, having allthree cars side by side made me realise that, al-though this was true, the difference in lengthwas not that pronounced. it is just 0.1 of a metrelonger than its closest rival – however it is alsomarginally wider and higher and possibly thatis why it gives this impression.

ground clearance is also a factor to considerin this category of vehicle and here the Captur,aided by the chrome design element along theside that actually accentuates this fact, is higherthan its rivals.

the cars on test were kitted with differentsized wheels, namely 16-inch on the 2008, 17-inch on the Captur and 18-inch on the Mokka.All suited the respective models but you willhave to balance out how much the ride is com-promised in return for a more aestheticallypleasing appearance.

Looking at the three models on test you canimmediately see that the 2008 has longer over-hangs protruding beyond the wheels, particu-larly at the rear. this plays an important role ininternal space that, without doubt, is one thingsomeone considering this type of vehicle willdefinitely consider.

i carried out a standard test using four piecesof luggage varying from a full sized suitcase toa middle sized one and two cabin sized pieces,essentially what a family of four would take onan overland trip, and saw how the cars handledthis.

the Mokka has a convenient loading heightand flat base and also offers a convenient sys-tem whereby the shelf slides behind the back ofthe rear seat and solves the problem of what todo with it if you are carrying something bulky.the floor of the Captur’s luggage boot can beset at two levels and has different finishes, onecarpeted and the other plasticised just in caseyou are transporting something messy. therear seats are also on rails so they can be moveddepending where the extra space is required.

the 2008 is the only one that swallowed upall four pieces of luggage with ease, justifyingthe additional body length. Loading is easy andconvenient – however the parcel shelf is nothooked on to the hatch and remains down evenwhen the hatch is opened.

interior space is adequate in all three carswith the Mokka benefiting from the extra lengthto give marginally more legroom at the rear.Headroom is good in all the models under testand all three cater for four adults comfortablyand a fifth passenger can squeeze in for a shorttrip.

each brand offers a range of trim levels andit will depend on individual tastes and budgetshow refined your car’s interior will be. similarlyyou can opt for a glass roof, automatic gearbox,upgraded sound system with touch-screen andany other option that can make your life onboard more comfortable and pleasurable.

the 2008 does not have a four-wheel driveoption but most models are fitted with an elec-tronic system that shifts power to the wheelwith more grip should this be required. All three

cars handle well and remain comfortable onbumpy roads.

engine options vary according to the model.the one tested on the Peugeot is the 1.6 dieseldeveloping 92bhp with low emissions and ca-pable of up to 70 miles per gallon. it is powerfulenough to give you a pleasant drive and at nostage does it feel underpowered, making it theideal choice for local drivers.

Opel offers the option of a 1.4 turbo petrol ora 1.7 turbo diesel, both of which are competentand economical so the choice depends on theamount of mileage you intend putting on thevehicle.

the options on the Captur range from thetried and tested 1.5dci or new 900cc 3-cylinderpetrol. However the diesel option is proving tobe the more popular choice due to its punchi-ness and impressive economy.

in europe, compact crossovers account for 15per cent of sales in the supermini segment andthese figures are set to rise. the effort beingmade by brands to ensure their candidate in thesegment is a worthy one is resulting in tech-nologies and gadgets normally only availablein more expensive and larger models.

these cars also offer the highest standardsof safety and, at least in relation to the modelsunder test, reliability is definitely not an issue.What one basically needs to decide is which onefits the bill in terms of looks and practicality. ○

GROUP TEST CROSSOVERS

PAQPAQ MOtORing & LeisuRe 05

AND IN THE FIRSTTHREE PLACES…

“INTERIOR SPACEIS ADEQUATE INALL THREE CARS”

Tonio Darmanin compares the Opel Mokka,Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.

S uch is world interest infinding alternative fuelsources that technol-ogy is progressing at anastonishing rate. In

Malta, rather than wait for the pri-vate sector, the government hastaken the unprecedented move ofgetting the ball rolling in an actionthat reflects that being taken at anEu level.

The Malta National Electromo-bility Action Plan is an ambitiousendeavour which foresees the im-plementation of projects, pro-grammes and measures by whichMalta will contribute to its Euro-pean and international environ-mental obligations including thoserelating to air quality levels and cli-mate change. Another obligation isMalta’s commitment to put 5,000battery electric vehicles on the roadby 2020 as well as developing thenecessary infrastructure needed tomake such vehicles viable.

The National ElectromobilityAction Plan includes some 22 con-crete projects which are intendedto assist the government in reach-ing Malta’s targets. Through eachproject, different types of BEVs willbe put on the road together withthe respective infrastructure. Thegovernment’s aim is that by 2020,

a network of no less than 500charging points will be deployednationwide.

To make sure that the action planis implemented, the Ministry forTransport and Infrastructure andTransport Malta have just set up theMalta National ElectromobilityPlatform. Besides overseeing theimplementation of the action plan,this will also serve as a stakeholderforum for electromobility.

Tracing the origins of the Demo-EV Project funded under the Eu Life+Action Programme, National Coor-dinator Peter Paul Barbara explainsthat back in December 2009, theoriginal project was intended as apilot project under a public privatepartnership arrangement withFrench automotive company re-nault ZE, which at the time was run-ning similar projects in Israel. Maltawas deemed high on the scale of

suitability thanks to its relativelysmall geographic size, which madeit an almost ideal test bed for newtechnology before putting it on theconsumer market. A reason whyelectromobility is ideal for Malta isthe short distances travelled andhence range anxiety, a common con-cern for BEV users, would be mini-mal. originally some 30 vehicleswere to be tested and 100 chargingpoints were scheduled to be in-stalled. However, despite a promis-ing start the deal fell through.

Fortunately, Barbara was not eas-ily deterred and was eventually suc-cessful in transposing this initialfaltering project into the Demo-EVproject in collaboration with the Eufunded Life+ programme. Today itexists as a partnership between theMinistry for Transport and Infra-structure, Transport Malta, Ministryfor gozo and Enemalta.

Started in September, 2011Demo-EV is set to continue until De-cember of this year and includes thedeployment of 24 BEVs rangingfrom light goods vehicles to cars ofdifferent classes. Ninety chargingpoints will be installed across Maltaand gozo, connected to the grid bymeans of three-phase power thathalves the charging time from eightto four hours. Volunteers have been

encouraged to use their vehicles inexactly the same way as they woulda conventional vehicle and werealso asked to record their drivinghabits.

“This project is all about the prac-tical application,” explains Barbara.“The idea is that people try the tech-nology for themselves. It puts peo-ple in touch with the latesttechnology being used in marketsthat are ready for change. This is thebest way to truly test whether suchtechnology can provide full or par-tial carbon neutral transportation.I firmly believe that sustainabletransport can be achieved usingclean forms of energy. This is theway forward.

“Electromobility is the future, pro-pelled by different types of energiesthat generate electricity. At the mo-ment it’s a process of gathering dataand by monitoring real situations we

can get an accurate perspective ofwhat is truly needed to charge a carat a place which is already solarpowered. That would mean that thevehicle is indirectly powering itselfusing solar power.”

The Transport Ministry is in theprocess of rolling out the secondphase of testing. The Demo-EV teamwill shortly start handing over ve-hicles to the next batch of volun-teers. Meanwhile Transport Malta,which is the lead partner of anotherelectromobility project, Port-PVEV,is in the process of contracting ad-

ditional and different types of BEVswhich have been supplied both bylocal dealers and directly from carmanufacturers themselves. Vehi-cles will include quadrocycles, theBMW i3 and the renault Zoe ZE,both of which are the newest elec-tric cars on the market.

Barbara says that it was quite afeat to convince these oEMs to sup-ply the government and eventuallythe Maltese market with this tech-nology, especially when one consid-ers the fact that not all Europeancountries will have these vehicles.

oEMs are choosing in which coun-tries these vehicles will be intro-duced and not every country isready for the technology.

“We had to work hard to convincethem that Malta will be ready. Wehad to show government’s commit-ment through the deployment ofthe infrastructure and the provisionof grants that will assist market up-take. If it wasn’t for these efforts,these vehicles would not have cometo the Maltese market for at leastanother three years. oEM expertswould need to make sure that theinfrastructure being installed issuitable to charge their vehicles andthat above all the charging processto each respective car is safe.

“I would like to appeal to car im-porters or agents to get in touchwith us to make sure that what theywill be importing is in line with thecurrent standards. We are also in

06 PAQPAQ MoTorINg & LEISurE

PETER PAUL BARBARA.PHOTO: MATTHEW MIRABELLI

“IT PUTS PEOPLE IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGYBEING USED IN MARKETS THATARE READY FOR CHANGE”

AN AMBITIOUS PL

Electromobility is coming to a charging point near you.Andrea Faye Christiansinterviews Peter Paul Barbara,National Coordinator, MaltaNational ElectromobilityPlatform and IntelligentTransport Systems.

TRANSPORT

NEWS

the process of putting procedures inplace as far as infrastructure is con-cerned. Government is also makingsure that even the emergency serv-ices will be trained on this new tech-nology in case of traffic accidents.Commercial vehicles are by far thebiggest polluters so their effectiveuse and any lessons that can belearned here are an important con-sideration.”

Preliminary results look promis-ing. Statistically it already appearsthat the more you use a battery-op-erated car the more cost-effective itbecomes. however, change doesn’tcome easy and traditionalists willlist the disadvantages of cost andbattery performance as hurdlesthat still need to be overcome. oldhabits die hard, which is why proj-ects like Demo-eV are so importantin changing public perception. anincentive scheme has recently beenintroduced to encourage interestedparties to make what many stillconsider to be a leap of faith.

the market is already adaptingwith vehicles being specially de-signed for battery propulsion usinglighter carbon fibre to promotegreater efficiency. Battery life is alsonow vastly improved with a typicallatest model expected to give atleast eight to nine years of optimumperformance. a range distance ofbetween 120 to 140km should alsobe more than adequate for localdrivers’ needs.

Furthermore, the new generationof charging points will rechargecars in minutes as opposed tohours. this is a huge leap forward,with the eu Commission proposalthat by 2020 there will be twocharging points for every vehicle onthe road. this proposal is still beingnegotiated at a european level.

It doesn’t end here. these proj-ects are aimed at putting landtransport targets back on track bycutting carbon emissions to just fiveper cent, enabling and promotinguse of transport fuels from renew-able energy sources and improving

air quality and noise emissions by2020.

ambitious it may be, but theseshort-term objectives are most defi-nitely realisable. In the long termelectric powered buses and theeventual phasing out of internalcombustion engine vehicles fromurban cores by 2050 are also tar-gets on the eu Commission’s radar.other environmentally friendly en-ergy sources such as hydrogenpower are also now rapidly gather-ing momentum.

one thing is for sure – the days ofthe traditional combustion engineand its associated problems arenumbered. We live in exciting times,all the more so because Malta hastaken the initiative and in doing sostands on the cutting edge of thelatest developments that eventuallylook to guarantee a more sustain-able and cleaner future. ○

PAQPAQ MotorInG & LeISure 07

LAN

More than 115,000 readers ofthe trade magazine Auto Motorund Sport voted the Skoda octaviaand Superb the Best Cars of 2014in their respective classes. In thesmall car category, the SkodaFabia achieved an outstandingthird place among import models.

this is the fifth class victory inthe readers’ poll over the last fouryears for the Czech carmaker.

the new octavia is a real win-ner. the third generation of thetraditional brand’s bestsellermanaged to jump into the top 10 ofthe German new vehicle registra-tion statistics straight away. theimport car has now won over thereaders of Auto Motor und Sport,

who voted the octavia Best Car of2014 in the mid-class import rank-ings. Despite strong competition,18.4 per cent of the participantsgave the successful model theirvote.

the Superb came out on top forthe fourth consecutive time, votedin the Auto Motor und Sport read-ership poll as the best mid-classimport model. this year the Superbgained 22.2 per cent of the votes.

the Fabia also secured a place onthe podium. In the small car importrankings, 8.6 per cent of all partic-ipants voted for the Fabia, ensuringone of the coveted podium positionswith third place. ○

Readers’favourite

EVENTS

08 PAQPAQ MoToRINg & LEISURE

WILDWEST

S ome of us love our hot, humidsummer. But by mid-Augustmany are dreaming of a breaksomewhere else. So if you’re a carenthusiast, jump on a plane to

Los Angeles to experience the greatest auto-motive experience on the planet.

Bonneville Speed WeekAUGUST 9-15When you get off your plane at Los Angeles,you’ll be jet-lagged. But it’s going to getworse. By the time you get through immigra-tion and pick up your Jeep Cherokee, you willprobably just want to go to the nearest hotelto fall exhausted into a bed. But don’t. Driveacross Los Angeles heading east. Your objec-tive is to get to Pomona, or even SanBernardino before checking into a motel fora well-deserved rest. The next morning yourbody clock will wake you very early andyou’ll be ready for the next stage to LasVegas. The climb up into the high desert is afabulous experience, and lunch awaits you inthe glittering metropolis. Spend a night ortwo, but try to limit your losses.

Your next stop is Wendover, a day’s driveaway. You’ll travel through breathtakingdesert scenery, dry, hot, but no humidity.Wendover sits right on top of the Nevada-Utah border, and it’s a small gambling townfor the folks who come down from Salt LakeCity on the weekends. It’s no frills, comfort-able, clean, and cheap. And it’s a few milesaway from the legendary Bonneville Salt

Flats where many world speed been set.

For the most part, Speed Week setting records but about havi going as fast as you can in w want, from a moped, to a hot rod rious stuff. We’re not talking ab the speed of sound, but quite tenders are hoping to become a the 200mph club. Sure, you cou an F40 and slam-dunk it, but y make any friends. This is about built during the weekends with your neighbours, family fun. The hicles are rusty pickup trucks an one slick, air-conditioned mo sight. This is fun on the cheap.

You need to get out to the sa tively early, or late in the aftern the midday heat. Driving out to miles across the flat salt, brings a real, out of this world feeling. T you do it will give you goosebump so hot outside, you could imagine stretching miles to the distant b tains. You need good sunglasse and a hat. Facilities are virtually nthere are no cafes in the shade, a sun reflects off the salt. Unless mission, you probably won’t be ab more than four hours out there.

The mix of vehicles running is teresting, and very few of them w with our European culture. Str perhaps most prolific, are the r is a singular American culture c

Do you get island fever orsummertime blues? Toby Ross has a

suggestion for a hot rod August.

PEBBLE BEACH – 1930S ELEGANCE

BONNEVILLE - GO FAST OR GO HOME BONNEVILLE SPE

PAQPAQ MOTORING & LEISURE 09

records have k is not about

ing fun. And whatever you d, to more se- out breaking

e a few con- a member of

ld turn up in you wouldn’t

t low budget, h the help of e support ve-

nd there’s not otorhome in

alt flats rela- noon to avoid

the paddock, an eerie, ethe-

The first time ps. If it wasn’t

e it was snow, black moun-

es, sunblock, non-existent,

nd the brutal s you’re on a

ble to survive

s strange, in- will match up

rangest, and rat rods. This

consisting of

finding an old rusty 1920s or 30s car, drop-ping a more modern engine and transmissionin, but leaving the rest as is.

The organisation is a bit chaotic. You canhave two runs a day, and it’s first-come, first-served. Arrive late at the start line and youcan wait hours for your turn on the salt.Some of the cars are there just for the fun, butsome of the competitors have a motto: go fastor go home. The latter category, though stillrunning on relatively low budgets, have sleekstreamliners and need a push from a supportvehicle before they engage first gear at about60mph due to their high gearing. Two days inthis magic place will open your mind andsoul as you take in the sight and sound of thereal America. But then it’s time to move on.

En route to MontereyAUGUST 15-17If you spend the first few days of the week atBonneville, a day’s drive will get you to Mon-terey. The Monterey Classic Car Week is thebiggest and best classic car extravaganza inthe world, something that will be the highlightof any car enthusiast’s life. Literally, nothingcompares to this. From the greatest auctionsof the greatest cars, amazing racing at LagunaSeca, to the very best concours d’elegance youwill ever witness. But unfortunately, unlessyou can be in two places at the same time, youwon’t be able to see everything.

The main events run from Friday untilSunday. And you will be spoilt for choice.Spend Friday in downtown Monterey. Startoff with a visit to the pier that strikes out intothe harbour. Watch the seals and adorablesea otters, then have lunch at a tourist trap.You’ll enjoy it. And you will also be wearing apullover, as the difference in temperature be-tween the Pacific Coast and the inland areasare dramatic. Yesterday you were in thedesert with temperatures hovering around40 degrees, and now it’s about 20. It probablywon’t rain, but it might drizzle. When themorning sea mist burns off, the day warmsup, but it never gets hot.

Then head back to the Portola Hotel, just astone’s throw from the harbour. Try not to betoo distracted by the amazing array of classiccars you will walk by, displayed by RM Auc-tions. Have a drink at the bar, rub shoulderswith collectors from the world over, and relax

before you start inspecting what RM are goingto sell in the hotel ballroom over the next cou-ple of nights. Around 200 cars go under thehammer over two evenings, and this show onits own is worth the trip. But on Saturday morn-ing you will have to make a difficult decision.

Laguna Seca is a racetrack about half anhour from Monterey. The setting of rollingsunburnt hills is magnificent. It is unquestion-ably one of the most attractive and spectatorfriendly circuits in the world. And this week-end it hosts one of the most spectacular ar-rays of historic race cars you will ever see. Intheory it’s a must see. But if you are a fan ofItalian classic machinery, your heart will betorn because Saturday is also the day for Con-corso Italiano, probably the largest assemblyof Italian exotics you will ever have the pleas-ure of coming across. The choice is yours.

Sunday is a no-brainer. You have to be atthe Pebble Beach concours d’elegance, a fewmiles from Monterey. The setting is on thelast fairway of this mythic golf course, look-ing out over the sea. But for once, this magicplace is upstaged by 250 of the greatest carson the planet, resplendent in their glory. Itwill take you all day to see, examine, anddrool over what is on display.

You might think that nothing could com-pare to this. And you would probably be right.But the pleasure is not over yet. Don’t takethe freeway back to the City of Angels. TakeHighway 1, the coast road. It is one of theworld’s great drives through breathtakingcountryside. You can do it in a day, but pleasespend two at least. You will not regret it. ○

“TWO DAYS INTHIS MAGICPLACE WILL OPENYOUR MIND ANDSOUL AS YOUTAKE IN THESIGHT ANDSOUND OF THEREAL AMERICA”

INSIDER TIPS○ Either rent a GPS from the car

rental company or buy one assoon as you leave the depot.Getting in and out of LA will bebrain damage without one.

○ Book your flights now. Thenearer you get to your departuredate, the more expensive theywill become.

○ Book your hotel in Montereynow. Monterey has hundreds ofhotels, but they sell out. And beprepared to be ripped off.

○ Buy your ticket to Pebble Beachin advance. It’s a charitableevent, and in an effort to reducethe number of visitors they haveput the entry price up to $150.But they still sell out. And re-serve a taxi from your hotel toget there. Otherwise you will beparked miles away.

○ If you’re going to Bonneville,watch the film Burt Munro.

○ This will be the trip of a lifetimeand it won’t be cheap. Plan itproperly to avoid disappoint-ment. If anyone is serious aboutgoing, contact me, and I will giveyou advice.

ALFAS GALORE AT PEBBLE BEACHPEBBLE BEACH –ASTON MARTIN DB4 ZAGATO

EED WEEK ULTIMATE RAT ROD AT BONNEVILLE AT BONNEVILLE, BIKES ARE ALSO WELCOME

ROAD & TRAVEL MAGAZINE hasnamed the 2014 Kia cadenza as theInternational car of the Year at the2014 North american Internationalauto show in Detroit.

The all-new 2014 cadenza’s stun-ning design combined with pre-mium amenities and impressivevalue propelled the Kia brand intothe premium sedan segment, andthis award adds to the growing listof accolades the cadenza has

earned since its launch in early2013. The award marks back-to-back victories for Kia as the 2013optima mid-size sedan was hon-oured by the american magazinewith the International car of theYear award last year.Road & Travel Magazine presents

two annual awards, one for car ofthe year and one for truck. In addi-tion to product attributes such asstyle, comfort and performance, the

awards also consider how well thebrand connects emotionally with

the consumer through its market-ing efforts. The winners are chosen

by the International car of the Yearjury, which consists of nationallyrenowned automotive journalistsfrom respected publications such asConsumer Guide, Automotive MSNAutos, New Car News Syndicate andRoad & Travel Magazine.

The International car of the Yearaward is the most recent in a stringof accolades the 2014 cadenza hasreceived. Just a few months ago, thecadenza took top honours in MotorTrend Magazine’s full-size sedancomparison test and was named tothe 2014 North american car of theYear shortlist. ○

NEWS

10 PAQPAQ MoTorING & LEIsurE

American hero

The sky isthe limitFor a car manufacturer that pridesitself in taking design and innovationto a new level, it seemed only naturalthat Nissan celebrates the launch ofthe all-new Qashqai with a ground-breaking interactive rooftopping ex-hibition in Paris, France.

regarded as one of the most excit-ing new art movements, rooftoppinginvolves climbing to the top of cityskyscrapers and capturing breath-taking photographs of the viewbelow.

The Nissan exhibition united thebiggest names in rooftopping, includ-ing the founder of the movement,Tom ryaboi, and was staged on theroof of the iconic Publicis Drugstoreoverlooking the champs-Elysees.

To showcase the artists’ work,guests were invited to climb from thesixth floor of the Publicis Drugstoreto the rooftop, where they weregreeted by the sight of the newQashqai and the spectacular Parisskyline. Guests were encouraged touse iPads to join an interactive trailthat explained where all the exhibi-tion images were shot.

The exhibition proved extremelypopular, with more than 2,500 appli-cants applying for the 1,000 ticketsavailable.

In staging the exhibition – the firstof its kind in France – Nissan pushedthe boundaries of both technologyand engineering. Lifting the newQashqai from the busy champs-Elysses onto the rooftop of the Publicis Drugstore involved state-of-the-art lifting equipment, while theexhibition space itself features thevery latest 4K ultra-high definitionscreens on which the rooftopping im-ages were shown. The building itselfwas installed with an advanced ge-olocalisation system that allowed thevisitors to use their iPads to see thephotographic locations. ○

COMING UPThe Dacia brand is a relatively new entrant inthe local car market and it is attracting signifi-cant interest with its shockingly affordableprices and comprehensive equipmentpackages. This is evident fromthe interest our long-termDuster generates on aregular basis. Com-plete strangers, usu-ally couples withkids in tow, show akeen interest in thecar and pluck up thecourage to ask ques-tions.

The enquiries invariablyfocus on build qual-ity, the renault en-gine, driveabilityand the overall pack-age. You can sense they are im-pressed by the interior with its no nonsenseapproach, and the strong-pulling 1.5dCi engine,which leaves a positive impression. The spa-cious interior and luggage boot also get a nodof approval.

Despite theshockingly affordable price, the Duster feels re-freshingly straightforward and practical as aneveryday vehicle with an abundance of spaceand all the essential equipment. Also, while it isquite large, the Duster feels nimble and engine

revs climb eagerly on each of the sixforward gears.

The combination of light and dark colouredplastics makes for a perfectly acceptable inte-rior ambience while the leather-stitched steer-ing wheel adds to the tactile feel. Variouscubbyholes swallow every day clutter and helpkeep the cabin tidy. ○

GARAGE

PAQPAQ MOTOrInG & LEISurE 11

The Peugeot 2008 and DaciaDuster join the Paqpaq garage.

POPULARITYCONTESTThe Paqpaq garage is set towelcome a new long-termtest with the latest crossoverfrom Peugeot, the 2008, join-ing the fleet.

The 2008 is a compactcrossover with a contempo-rary design, a versatile inte-rior and a new level ofsophistication. This combi-nation has attracted signifi-cant interest among

European new car buyersand over 32,000 weresold in the first couple ofmonths.

Our long-term 2008has the most popular com-

bination: an e-HDi engineand white colour. Accordingto statistics provided by thecompany, the demand is two-thirds diesel with the e-HDi92 accounting for 20 per centof orders while the e-HDi 115is the second most popularmodel. Colour choices arealso interesting, with BiancaWhite taking 36 per cent oforders. The second mostpopular is Pearl White with18 per cent take-up. It meansthat together the two shadesof white are accounting formore than half of all orders.

The 2008 marks Peugeot’sdebut in the compactcrossover arena. Launchedat the 2013 Geneva MotorShow, it brings a more prac-tical, innovative and family-oriented vehicle to theB-segment by combining thetalents of two acclaimedPeugeot vehicles. It blendsthe versatile design of the3008 with all the features,performance and low-emis-sion engines of the new 208supermini.

TO THEPOWEROF TWO

oNE oF THE most esteemed Land Rover vehicles evermade, the Range Rover Evoque makes a further signifi-cant leap forward with the introduction of a host of newtechnologies. These enhancements bring a range of newcomfort and convenience features.

With global sales of more than 170,000 vehicles in just18 months, the Range Rover Evoque has proven to behighly successful. The 2014 Range Rover Evoque willbenefit from new features, including a new nine-speedautomatic transmission, new driveline technologies, newdriver assistance features and detail design enhance-ments inside and out.

The ZF-9HP automatic transmission is among theworld’s first nine-speed units fitted to a passenger car. Ithas an ultra-fast response time and an adaptive shift pro-gramme that quickly matches the driving style. With awide spread of ratios and improved efficiency, the newtransmission delivers reduced emissions, enhanced per-formance and greater comfort.

Land Rover is also now offering an optional Active Dri-veline four-wheel drive on-demand system. It enablesthe 2014 Evoque to turn into a FWD car during normalroad conditions at speeds of above 35 km/h. It will makethe switch to a four-wheel drive setup in just 300 millisec-onds whenever road conditions change.

For the 2014 model, the driver assistance capabilitiesof Range Rover Evoque are significantly enhanced by theintroduction of new features including park exit, perpen-dicular park, adaptive cruise control, closing vehiclesensing and reverse traffic detection.

In addition, there are detail changes to the Range RoverEvoque vehicle’s exterior, new colour options for the in-terior, new alloy wheel styles and a new style of LandRover badge on the grille, wheel centres and tailgate.

Muscats Motors are the official Land Rover dealershipin Malta. For more information, contact Muscats Motorson 2326 4584/5 or e-mail ldalli@mml.mizzi.com.mt /acassar@mml.mizzi.com.mt ○

NEWS POLE POSITION

12 PAQPAQ MoToRINg & LEISuRE

Added driving pleasure

T he new Formula 1 carshave been unveiled,changed driver line-ups announced andthe 2014 calendar

published. But before delving intothe most important aspects of thenew Formula 1 season, it is obliga-tory to spare a thought for MichaelSchumacher.

It is so ironic that the highestachieving Formula 1 driver evercheats death as a profession foryears and then grievously injureshimself while relaxing and enjoyinghis retirement with his family. I sin-cerely wish him a speedy and com-plete recovery and his family thecourage and strength to help themthrough these difficult times.

The Formula 1 show must go onand this year, there are some newrules which will add plenty of ex-citement to the sport.

Hard and fast rulesRule change 1: Introduction of newpower unit consisting of a 1.6-litreV6 turbo engine and two Energy Re-covery Systems (ERS).Implications: The 2013 2.4-litrenormally-aspirated V8 enginesproduced around 750bhp, with anadditional 80bhp available foraround six seconds per lap fromKERS. This season’s V6 engines putout around 600bhp. However, thetwo ERS systems (ERS-K and ERS-H) will give drivers an additional160bhp or so for approximately 33seconds per lap.

Rule change 2: 100kg fuel limit forrace.Implications: Last year, while therewas no race fuel limit or fuel flowlimit, cars used in the region of 160kg

of fuel per race with a fuel flow limitof 170kg per hour. For this season,things will be radically different: eachcar has a 100kg fuel limit per race(around one third less than before)while fuel flow is limited to 100kg perhour. That means that while the carswill likely be run at the limit of fuelflow during much of the practice andqualifying, it will have to be a differ-ent story during races when cars arerunning for well over an hour.

Rule change 3: Introduction ofeight-speed, fixed ratio gearboxes.Implications: In 2013 teams had theluxury of nominating 30 gear ratiosahead of the season and the choiceof running any seven of those (plusreverse) at any race. From 2014,Formula 1 gearboxes have an extragear – however these eight gearsmust be selected before the firstrace of the season and then thosesame ratios must be used at everytrack on the calendar.

For this year only teams are al-lowed to change the ratios once (incase they get their gearing wildlywrong), but after that any changeswill incur penalties. Therefore it’simperative that teams come up witha range of ratios suitable for everytrack. This will be no easy task withcircuits ranging from tight andtwisty Monaco to flat-out Monza.

Rule change 4: Narrower front wing.Implications: The front wing hasbeen reduced from a width of1,800mm to 1,650mm – the mainaim of this change is to reduce thenumber of punctures caused by an endplate catching the rear tyreof a competitor’s car. A 150mm re-duction may sound small on paperbut it has massive implicationsaerodynamically.

ON YOUAs the opening race of thenew Formula 1 seasonapproaches, Tonio Darmanintakes a look at the new rulesand their effect on track.

PAQPAQ MOTORING & LEISURE 13

URMARKSRule change 5: Shallower rear wingflap and abolition of beam wing.Implications: The virtual box inwhich the rear wing flap must fit is20mm smaller than last year andtherefore the flap is slightly shal-lower in profile. This, along with theabolition of the conventional beamwing, means the rear wing will becapable of producing less down-force in 2014 than it did in 2013. Thiswill be most noticeable at high-downforce tracks.

Rule change 6: Minimum weight in-creased by 48kg.Implications: The minimum weightof car and driver has been increasedby 48kg from 2013, up from 642kg to690kg to compensate for the in-creased weight of the new powerunit and associated systems. How-ever, concerns were raised last yearthat the new regulations haven’t in-creased the minimum weightenough. It’s been argued by manythat, in a sport where every gramhas a performance effect, taller, andtherefore heavier drivers will be at asignificant disadvantage to theirsmaller rivals. One thing is certain:you can expect Formula 1 drivers tobe leaner than ever in 2014.

Rule change 7: Nose and chassisheight reduced.Implications: For safety reasons,the height of the chassis has beenreduced from 625mm to 525mm,while the height of the nose hasbeen dramatically slashed from550mm to 185mm. This is to preventcars launching upwards in the eventof nose to rear tyre collisions.

Rule change 8: Single exhaust withcentral exit.Implications: The developments inexhaust technology in the past fewyears have led to terms such as‘coanda effect’ and ‘blown diffusers’becoming common parlance in thepaddock. But these buzz phraseswill disappear from common usagein 2014 thanks to the repositioningof the exhaust.Additionally, one of the most con-

troversial changes is that for the lastrace, in this case Abu Dhabi, doublepoints will be given both to the driv-ers and the teams and this will pos-sibly leave the championship wideopen until the final race.We will also see the introduction

of two new races namely Austriaand Russia. At the moment all theteams are testing and in full prepa-

ration to ensure they arrive in topform on the grid in Australia onMarch 16. In the next issue of Paqpaqwe will

take a look at how each individualteam is fairing and might have aclearer idea on who the protago-nists for the forthcoming season arelikely to be.

RACING

14 PAQPAQ MOTOrInG & LEISUrE

W hen it comes to driving, I have a bit of a reputation. Well, actuallynot a bit, because usually my friends fight over who will get the backseat when I’m driving. Yet my driving style does have its advantages,especially at the Circuito Internazionale le Colline in Padova, Italywhere, together with a group of friends, I head for the day.

The Circuito Internazionale le Colline includes three specialised tracks: one for go-kart and mini-bike racing, a second for offroading and a third for car and bike racing. We’rethere for the third option and as soon as we arrive, we sit down for a briefing with qualifiedinstructors. Using diagrams, the instructors explain oversteer and understeer and go over thetrack and the different brake points.

Briefing over, we proceed to the track where we are divided into groups. As soon as it’s ourturn, we get in a Porsche Cayenne for two recognition laps – the driver shows us every singlecorner of the track and explains our approach, where to slow down, how to take the corners andcurves and when to accelerate.

As we complete the laps, we can see the instructors preparing the cars we would be driving.And what cars. I had opted for a Ferrari, which meant I could choose between an F430 coupe anda F430 F1. Both have the same V8 engine, but while the coupe churns out 490hp and can hit thezero to 100km/h mark in four seconds flat, the F1 is 200kg lighter, which means it has quickeracceleration, doing zero to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds.

The others had opted for a special edition Lamborghini Gallardo equipped with a V10engine and a maximum speed of 320km/h. Unlike the Ferrari, which has rear traction,the Gallardo has a 30 per cent front and a 70 per cent rear traction.

It was going to be a great race. Some of my friends had already started their laps so I hurried to get in my F430 coupe.

Elegant yet sporty from the outside, on the inside it’s a dream. My navigator introduceshimself and explains how to start the engine. I’m so excited that it takes me a couple ofminutes to get the hang of it. But when I do, the roar of the V8 fills my world and we’reheaded for the track.

The entry to the track is quite narrow so I’m careful. But then the track opens up, I stepon the gas and feel the adrenaline rush transform me into some sort of superhero. Thetrack goes straight for some 400 metres and then there is a stretch where you can hit the200km/h mark. Then two corners in quick succession and yet another 250-metre stretch.

I can’t get enough of it and, after what feel like five minutes, the navigator tells me thatmy last lap is coming to an end and to prepare to exit the track. I’m tempted to ignorehim, but I imagine that would have been an expensive kind of stubbornness.

Once out of the car, no one can wipe the smile off my face and I vow that if one day Ihave the money, then the F430 would be on top of my shopping list. ○

“THE TRACK GOES STRAIGHT FORSOME 400 METRES AND THENTHERE IS A STRETCH WHERE YOUCAN HIT THE 200KM/H MARK”

REDRomina Farrugia has her day of glory.ALE

PAQPAQ MOTORING & LEISURE 15

ERT

WinterwarriorFiAt iS celebrating 30 yearsof its iconic all-wheel drivecity car with the special edi-tion Panda 4X4 Antarctica.designed to stand out fromthe crowd, the Antarctica isonly available in white with ablack roof, orange detailing,diamond-finish 15-inch alloywheels and special badges.

inside, the Panda 4X4Antarctica features grey andorange upholstery with nu-merous additional standardfeatures such as dark-tintedrear privacy glass, a heightadjustable driver’s seat andthree-passenger rear seatwith 60:40 split/foldingbackrests.

Powered either by Fiat’saward-winning 85hp 0.9twinAir petrol engine or a75hp 1.3-litre MultiJet iiturbo diesel engine, thePanda 4X4 Antarctica offersa unique combination of ex-ceptionally low runningcosts and genuine off-roadcapability which is un-matched by any competitorvehicle. ○

NEWS

16 PAQPAQ MotorinG & LeiSure

the BMW 2 Series Coupe takes thelevels of driving pleasure on offer ina compact model to greater heights.the new two-door cuts a particu-larly impressive figure with its dis-tinctive body design, a range ofextremely powerful engines andspecially configured chassis tech-nology.

there is clear water between theBMW  2  Series  Coupe and theBMW  1  Series, the new model as-suming a character all of its own.this differentiation is immediatelyrecognisable in the design of thenew car, but it also makes its pres-ence felt in terms of performance.

the BMW  2  Series  Coupe is aneven more eye-catching creationthan its predecessor, the resound-ingly successful BMW 1 SeriesCoupe. As well as a standalone ap-pearance and increased dimensions,there is also greater depth to its

product substance in terms of bothtechnology and standard equip-ment. the result is a new dimensionin driving dynamics, aesthetic ap-peal and premium allure in thecompact segment.

the specific vehicle concept be-hind the BMW  2  Series  Coupe is

faithfully reflected in its body de-sign. the two-door model is firstand foremost a coupe from the BMWbrand and the design features thatidentify a member of this specialbreed are carried over into a com-pact model with greater enthusiasmthan ever. the ultra-sporty driving

characteristics of the BMW  2  Se-ries Coupe are thus unambiguouslyexpressed in the design.

the 135 kW/184 hp four-cylinderengine in the BMW  220i  Coupe ismaking its debut in a compact BMWmodel, and the 240 kW/326 hp six-cylinder in-line engine under the

bonnet of the BMW  M235i  Coupeearns it top billing as the most pow-erful petrol-driven member of theBMW M Performance line-up.

the BMW  2  Series  Coupe buildson the brand’s tradition of compactmodels offering a satisfying degreeof driver engagement. ○

A new dimension in dynamics

Citroen Continued to grow inter-nationally in 2013 and began its re-covery with a 2.1 per cent increase inworldwide sales in the second halfand a 4.9 per cent rise in the fourthquarter.

the dS line performed strongly in2013. extended this year by the dS3Cabrio and marketed as a premiumbrand in China, the line-up con-firmed its success around the worldwith 410,000 sales since launch. 2013also saw the launch of the new C4 Pi-casso and Grand C4 Picasso, ordersfor which already total 58,000, inonly few months, exceeding thebrand’s objectives.

“Looking beyond our internationaldevelopment, the brand’s perform-ances in 2013 confirm the validity ofour product strategy,” said FrédéricBanzet, Chief executive officer of Cit-roen. “First of all, with dS, a commer-cial success embodying the return ofthe French automobile to the pre-

mium segment. the strong position-ing of this product line is such thatwe were able to make it a brand inChina, where sales of the locally pro-duced dS5 have already exceededour forecasts.

“We also want to bring customersbold design choices and differentia-tion with our core range. the renewalof the C line began in 2013 with thelaunch of the new C4 Picasso andGrand C4 Picasso, applauded by ourcustomers and acknowledged by theinternational press in the shape ofnumerous awards. the brand willtake things further in 2014, revealinga new model, the Citroen C4 Cactus,a true manifesto of our new corerange.” ○

International growth