RSA: R59,90 (incl.VAT) Other countries: R52,09 (excl. tax) CARmag.co.za CARmagSA CARmagazineSA CARmagazineSA April 2023 | Issue 794 TESTED Vo l v o XC 6 0 T8 R e c h a r g e | M e r c e d e s - B e n z E QA 2 5 0 a n d E Q B 3 5 0 4 M a ti c T h e w o r l d ’ s f a s t e s t E V EV Special Edition EXCLUSIVE DRIVE Rolls-Royce’s first-ever EV Why the E-Prix has to work PLUG-IN HYBRIDS Future or fading force?
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CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 13 WELCOME I t used to be said that the two immutable things in life were death and taxes. Within the automotive sphere, we could now add electrification to that somewhat dour duo. But does the electrified future of motoring really have to sound the death knell for the things that set petrolheads’ hearts revving? It’s certainly not the case when you consider the formidablelooking electric hypercar gracing the cover of this month’s issue of CAR: far from it! The Rimac Nevera is a prime example of just how exhilarating electrified motoring can be. With a tarmac-rending 1 427 kW and 2 360 N.m on tap, it’s the fastest production EV in the world, goading those brave enough to test its limits with a 412 km/h top speed ... and we had a chance to get behind the wheel to see what this Croatian wonder-car is all about. Closer to home, yet still in keeping with all things electric on the motoring scene, we travel to Cape Town to take in the excitement of the first ever Formula E race to take place on local soil. We were also lucky enough to be counted among a select group of publications to drive Rolls-Royce’s eagerly awaited Spectre – the luxury carmaker’s first foray into the world of EVs – to see how the Spirit of Ecstasy takes to electricity. Even our road tests this month are highvoltage affairs. We sample two of MercedesBenz’s new EQ electric models – the EQB SUV and its smaller and no less striking EQA crossover stablemate – to get a taste of what the German firm’s electrified future has in store. Of course, we’ll never leave our fans of large-displacement V8s wanting for a dose of traditional motoring thrills, so the brawny Range Rover P530 Autobiography joins the road test line-up this month. As exciting as electric motoring can be, we still feel striking a balance between combustionengined motoring and EVs is a viable path. To this end, we put Volvo’s XC60 T8 Recharge plugin hybrid to the test. It proved a neat lead-in point to this month’s Tech feature, which looks at the workings of plug-in electric hybrids to see if this technology really offers motorists the best of both worlds going forward. We invite you to sit back, plug in and prepare to be electrified. from the editor April 2023 | Vol 67.03 | Issue no 794 04 electric vehicles driven 04 cars tested (plus three long-termers) 3 145 kW combined power outputs of EVs driven 30 braking tests 20 0–100 km/h sprint tests 10 638 kilometres covered 8 795 kilograms of vehicles weighed 16 403 kilometres travelled for launches Email | [email protected] IamDamianAdams WHAT IT TOOK TO MAKE THE APRIL ISSUE
call: 021 530 3300 email: [email protected] Contact the CAR team ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Johann Hauptfleisch [email protected] EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Damian Adams [email protected] FOUNDER: NORTON RAMSAY (1914–1986) RESERVATION OF COPYRIGHT The publishers of CAR reserve all rights of reproduction or broadcasting of road tests,feature articles and factual data appearing in this journal, under Section 12 (7) of the Copyright Act, 1978. Such reproduction or broadcasting may be authorised only by the publishers of CAR. MEMBER OF THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION OF SA While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given to readers,neither the editors,the proprietors,nor the publishers can accept any responsibility for any damages or injury which may arise therefrom. AVERAGE MONTHLY SALES – 42 094 (Q3 2022) Editorial EDITOR Damian Adams MANAGING EDITOR Gareth Dean SENIOR JOURNALIST Kyle Kock TECHNICAL ADVISER Graham Eagle LEAD DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR Alex Shahini DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR Ryan deVilliers EDITORIAL INTERN Siyavuya Mbaduli CONSULTING DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Ryan O’Connor PROOFREADER Margy Beves-Gibson CONTRIBUTORS Deon Joubert,Rhynhardt Krynauw, Juan Miguel Luis Beco,Wilhelm Lutjeharms, Ian McLaren, Peter Palm,Braam Peens, Duoporta Creative ART DIRECTOR Tauriq Loofer DESIGNER Tyrone Michaels PHOTOGRAPHER Peet Mocke Digital GROUP DEVELOPER & SUPPORT MANAGER Cicero Joseph WEBMASTER Lizelle Leonard Sales BRAND DIRECTOR Johann Hauptfleisch ACCOUNT MANAGERS Jean de Ridder, Justin James, Ryan Kahn, EvannWessels BUYERS GUIDE Jack Nicolle CAR DEALER SALES MANAGER Alain Simpson Marketing, events and circulation SENIOR HR & CIRCULATION MANAGER Chanel Martin Production PRODUCTION MANAGER Rushaan Holliday DEPUTY PRODUCTION MANAGER MaggieWasserfall AD DESIGN STUDIO MANAGER Brumilda Fredericks AD DESIGNER Leigh-Anne Hendricks Published by RamsayMedia (Pty) Ltd Company registration number: 1934/005460/07 | ISSN number: 1682-5136 Printed by CTP Printers, Boompies Street, Parow | Distributed by On the Dot CT head office: 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni, 7405 | PO Box 180, Howard Place, 7450 Tel: 021 530 3300 | Fax: 021 530 3333 Gauteng office: Caxton House, 368 Jan Smuts Avenue, Randburg, 2196 | PO Box 78132, Sandton, 2146 Tel: 011 449 1087 | Fax: 011 449 1104 www.ramsaymedia.co.za CEO: K Ferguson | Deputy CEO: Fidele Kibonge | MD:TWalker | COO:V Jankovic Directors: B Allie (production), R Jakoet (HR) Chief technology officer: A Brown CTP Ltd Directors: P Jenkins,T Moolman,T Howard, S de Kock RamsayMedia is owned by Highbury Media & CTP Ltd. Highbury Media holds the controlling interest in RamsayMedia. RamsayMedia is managed by Highbury Media’s board of directors. SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE UPTO32% 12 ISSUES FOR ONLY R489 SIMPLY CONTACT US AND QUOTE 23/04/SP/CAR FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION & FREE DELIVERY OF YOUR MAGAZINE + TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This offer applies to print subscribers with a South African address only. By providing your personal details, you are giving CAR permission to communicate with you via email or SMS. For foreign rates and other great offers, visit subs.arena.africa/magazines.asp HOW TO SUBSCRIBE email: [email protected] call: 087 550 0329 Operations CREDITS Highbury Media T/A Habari Media
16 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za CONTENTS APRIL 2023 SUBSCRIBE to CAR by sending an email to [email protected] P30 ON THE COVER: The mind-warping performance figures are one thing, but the electrifying driving experience is something to savour as we get behind the wheel of Rimac’s mighty Nevera EV hypercar. Insight 20 Audi Activesphere concept, F1’s new top tier, Range Rover Velar, BMW M3 CS, Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Features 30 Lightning speed: Rimac’s electrifying Nevera driven 44 Formula E: Back to the future Drive 50 Rolls-Royce Spectre 58 Lexus UX Classic Collection 60 From Bavaria with love Column 66 Best of British? by Ryan O’Connor 68 Scintillatingly silent by Deon Joubert Tests 70 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4Matic 74 Range Rover P530 Autobiography 78 Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 82 Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge Ultimate 86 Long-termers Tech 92 Techtalk 94 Feature: PHEVs – a practical approach to electrification? Speed 98 Mission: Impossible – Mattia Binotti’s Ferrari exit Buy 102 Case study: VW T-Cross and company for less than R350k 104 Starter classic: Volvo 164 (1969–1976) 113 CAR Guide 143 CAR Dealer 154 Buyers Guide 162 Memorable race cars: 1990 Audi V8 quattro DTM Rolls-Royce Spectre P50
INSIGHT NEWS The Audi Activesphere is the perfect foil to Tesla’s Cybertruck. It looks the part, has all the tech and may be a little closer to making the final cut B uilding on the e-tron models that have gone before it, and those on the way, Audi’s Activesphere concept probably stands a better chance of getting the green light than the other Sphere concepts such as the Skysphere roadster, Grandsphere sedan and the Urbansphere MPV/SUV. OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD LOOKS On the face of it, the concept is a bakkie, which, in case you hadn’t noticed, is all the rage right now. But technically, it’s not, because of the styling along the profile that aligns more with the look of a fourdoor crossover coupé. Then there’s its resemblance to the RS Q e-tron vehicles, which scored 14 podiums at this year’s Dakar Rally and have been flying the flag for EVs in high-level motorsport. For those unsure where the Activesphere is supposed to sit in terms of convention, we can only say it doesn’t fit into any of the traditional boxes. An adaptive air suspension system allows it to rival any customised off-roader (at its highest setting, it clears the surface by 248 mm, while the default 208 mm should suit faster driving), not to mention 22-inch wheels fitted with thick-sidewall tyres. The Activesphere gets its name in the way the sliding rear window gives way and at the same time, the narrow tailgate drops over it and turns into an “active back” from its Sportback look. These open up at the touch of a button to reveal a little load bed that will easily swallow oversized luggage like two bicycles or surfboards. And not that it matters much in our market, but there’s also a retractable ski-rack integrated into the roof. M O V E O V E R 20 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za By: Kyle Kock KyleSpliceZA
GO THAT MATCHES THE SHOW Like the other Sphere concepts, Activesphere uses electric drive and quick-charging technology from Audi’s PPE modular system. We’re talking a claimed range of over 600 km and charging times significantly quicker than anything available on the market right now, thanks to its 800 V architecture. This means fast charging from almost nothing to 80% in around 18 minutes. The Activesphere sends drive to all four wheels via a quattro allwheel-drive system and dedicated electric motors for the front and rear axles, respectively. The combined output of the dual motors is 325 kW and 720 N.m of torque, which is enough for a 0–100 km/h sprint in just 4,9 seconds. VIRTUAL-REALITY CABIN Befitting of its futuristic concept proviso, the Activesphere’s interior is a case study in minimalist functionality and uses recycled materials and vivid colours. As is the case with most four-door concepts, there are only four seats. When the Activesphere’s autonomous function kicks in, the facia, pedals and steering wheel retract to free up more room up front. Augmented-reality headsets offer a combination of camera views of the exterior, and superimposed 3D content, driving information and interactive features also feature. Off-road, the Activesphere can also project 3D topography graphics on the landscape images in the headset, so 4x4 enthusiasts can always pick the perfect line. CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 21 M O O N - R O V E R
22 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za INSIGHT NEWS SAUBER–AUDI Last year, Audi announced its intention to join motorsport’s premier formula at the Belgian Grand Prix after the change to F1’s technical regulations for 2026. It would later emerge that Audi would partner with the Sauber team, which currently operates as Alfa Romeo Racing, after purchasing a small stake in the Swiss outfit. Audi Sport will continue to use Sauber’s Hinwil facility. It includes a wind tunnel vital for success in Formula One, but the power unit will be built at an expanded version of the Neuburg an der Donau site in Germany, not too far from company headquarters in nearby Ingolstadt. Neuburg is the facility responsible for developing the powertrains that led Audi to an unprecedented run of wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As Audi has turned away from efforts at Le Mans, it has not focused its full attention on F1. With many successful campaigns at the World Rally Championship in the ‘80s, IMSA and touring cars in the ‘90s, and Le Mans at the turn of the century, more recently, Audi Sport has turned to the gruelling Dakar Rally to prove its EV racing potential. “Formula 1 is the next major milestone in Audi’s motorsport history,” says Audi Sport managing director Julius Seebach. WELCOME TO THE TOP TIER World motorsport governing body the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and management of F1 have long been looking at ways to make the premier class more sustainable and its efforts have attracted more manufacturers to the glamour and glory of the world championship series
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 23 As one of the last manufacturers to have ties with motorsport at all levels, it’s interesting to see how Ford will use F1 to improve its efforts at Le Mans, NASCAR and Australian Supercars. Will they win on Sunday and sell on Monday? Time will tell. “F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers,” explained Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. RED BULL-FORD After a 20-year-long hiatus, the Blue Oval will return to Formula One to partner with Red Bull Powertrains and help develop the hybrid power unit that will drive the Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri team cars from 2026 until 2030. The revised technical regulations for 2026 include a 350 kW electric motor and combustion engine compatible with sustainable fuels, and Ford’s expertise in powertrains will be vital to the success of the Red Bull outfit. Ford’s management has already set aside $50 billion in a bid for EV market dominance, as it is already the number-two EV manufacturer in its domestic market.
24 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za INSIGHT NEWS VOILA, VELAR Four years after its local introduction, the Range Rover Velar is refreshed for the 2023 model year The stylish younger brother to the fullsize Range Rover offering, the sleek Velar is perhaps not yet the off-roading guru its big brother is. The British firm has seen fit to embrace the fact that the Velar’s target market is more concerned with how it fares on the road. Upfront, the Velar’s kerb-side appeal was enhanced with a new grille as well as the company’s new “pixel” LED headlamps that include a sliver of daytime running lights. At the rear, the bumper’s lower half was redesigned so the tailpipes are hidden, and there are new LED taillamps. charging pad in the centre console. Up to 80% of tasks work within two taps on the touchscreen and updates to the Velar’s ECUs can be performed over the air. Petrol and diesel models are offered, but by far the most compelling is the P400e plug-in hybrid, which can be driven up to 64 km on electric power alone owing to a larger 19,2 kWh battery. It has a combined 297 kW and 640 N.m of torque and Range Rover claims the P400e should be capable of 684 km of range using the 2,0-litre turbopetrol and electric motors. Buyers can opt for a leather-free cabin, which uses a combination of wool by Danish textile experts Kvadrat and polyurethane inserts. The new material is claimed to have been put through 60 000 cycles of abrasion testing – roughly the equivalent of 10 years of usage – as well as a simulation of three years’ worth of harsh sunlight. The company’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system also appears in the Velar, with effortless connection to wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a new wireless
HALLOWED BE THY BADGE The BMW M3 has just been granted CS credentials, which should have enthusiasts of the Munich brand buzzing The concept of removing weight and adding power is nothing novel in the automotive world, but when BMW does it, it usually means something special. Throw in the much-vaunted CS badge and you’d better grip the edge of your seat. BMW has tapped into the knowledge gleaned from the company’s successful 2022 DTM season and employs a few motorsport-inspired bits from that race car, including the crankcase, crankshaft, cylinder head and optimised oil supply and cooling system for track use. The result is a safe 30 kW power hike over an M3 Competition, for a 405 kW peak by turning up the boost from 1,7 to 2,1 bar. callipers to be finished in matte gold or red. There are lightweight forged alloy wheels fitted, measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear. Thanks to the prodigious use of carbon-fibrereinforced plastic inside and out on items such as the bucket seats, bonnet, centre console, exterior mirror caps, shift paddles and rear spoiler, weight is 20 kg less than an xDrive-equipped M3 Competition sedan. Production started in Germany last month and while priority was given to markets such as the USA, UK, Germany and Japan, South Africa has been allocated 20 units that will arrive before year end. The M3 CS produces 650 N.m from 2 750 r/min all the way to 5 950 r/min. The M3 CS sends torque to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, with an M set-up menu that will send more torque to the rear wheels via 4WD Sport mode. There’s also the option to send power entirely to the rear wheels. With all four wheels engaged, however, the M3 CS can manage a 3,4 second 0–100 km/h sprint, 0–200 km/h in 11 seconds and fourth-gear acceleration from 80–120 in just 2,6 seconds. The top speed is limited to 302 km/h. Fitted as standard are M carbon ceramic brakes. Buyers can opt for the CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 25
26 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za INSIGHT NEWS LAST DON DBS 2023 UPCOMING MODELS* The Ultimate badge is reserved for the most exclusive Aston Martins of the modern era and now, it will be used on the final DBS The Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate will be made available in coupé and drop-top guises – numbering 300 and 199 units, respectively – and all examples have been sold ahead of the launch later this year. The 770 Ultimate is driven by the most powerful version of the Gaydon-based company’s turbopetrol 5,2-litre V12 engine. Thanks to tweaks to the air induction and ignition, and a 7% increase in boost pressure, it now makes 566 kW at 6 500 r/min and 900 N.m of torque at 1 800 r/min. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission with special shift calibration for this model. Stopping power is provided by the carbon-ceramic 410 mm front discs and 360 mm rear discs that do service in the regular DBS. Rigidity has been improved and damping enhancements grant the driver supreme control of the 770 Ultimate. Q4 Audi Q8 e-tron BMW M2 BMW 7 Series Mazda BT-50 Mercedes-AMG C 63 E performance Rolls-Royce Spectre TBC Aston Martin Valhalla Ferrari Purosangue Jaguar F-Type 75 Lamborghini Urus Performante Land Rover Defender 75 Mazda CX-60 Mitsubishi ASX Toyota GR Corolla *Please note this list is in no way exhaustive and dates may be affected by production and delivery delays. IMMINENT BAIC BJ80 Honda Civic Type R Lotus Emira Maserati Grecale McLaren Artura Mitsubishi Outlander Nissan Qashqai e-Power Suzuki Grand Vitara Toyota Crown Toyota Supra manual Q2 Chery Omoda 5 BMW Z4 BMW XM Fiat Doblo Jaguar i-Pace Kia Seltos Lexus RX Porsche 911 Dakar Q3 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate BMW M3 CS Hyundai Grand i10 Renault Arkana Subaru Crosstrek Subaru Outback XT Volvo C40 Recharge
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28 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za INSIGHT NEWS The other stories redefining the car world right now ICYMI JAC X100 JOINS FORWARDCAB FRAY Hot on the heels of the JAC X200 single- and double-cab duo is the X100, a forward cab onetonne bakkie powered by a 1,2-litre, four-cylinder engine developing 65 kW and 115 N.m of torque. JAC will announce pricing closer to the X100’S launch, but has confirmed it will come with a three-year/100 000 km warranty. CHERY OMODA EARNS 5 AT EURO NCAP The Euro NCAP safety programme is globally recognised as the authority when it comes to crash safety procedures, and Chery has reason to celebrate as its Omoda C5 has just returned from testing with a five-star rating. It’s the first time a vehicle from the Chinese manufacturer was tested by Euro NCAP and the Omoda C5 will be the first Chinese vehicle with a five-star safety rating to go on sale in South Africa later this year. DETROIT RIVALS SQUARE UP WITH RAPTOR The Raptor badge has been associated with off-road performance for more than a decade, but little has come close to matching the Ford nameplate for outright bundu-bashing ability. Ram Trucks has closed the gap with its 1500 TRX, a 6,2-litre supercharged V8 double cab that packs 523 kW. Chevrolet is also working on a hotter version of the Silverado ZR2, codenamed project Meteor. Ford will respond with an F-150 Raptor R later this year. TOYOTA’S TAKE ON SUZUKI CELERIO The latest development in the relationship between manufacturers Toyota and Suzuki is that the latter’s Celerio budget hatchback will be rebadged as a Toyota. The new model will be titled Vitz and is set to replace the Agya as the most affordable model in Toyota’s local line-up. In addition to some cosmetic tweaks, we can expect the Vitz’s standard specification to differ from that of the Celerio. HARDCORE RADICAL SR10 XXR BREAKS COVER The Radical SR10 is in no way a slouch. It is a turbocharged lightweight, open-cockpit sports car and now, the British manufacturer has seen fit to endow it with aerodynamic enhancements in the fashion of Le Mans Prototypes. These help to stabilise it at high speed, increase cooling efficiency and reduce understeer. It will go into production by mid-2023. LAMBORGHINI TWINS HONOUR V12 LEGACY Italian supercar manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini will soon unveil the first hybrid in the company’s 60-year history, but not before a final hurrah for the current V12s that replaced the original Giotto Bizzarrini-penned powerplant. Dubbed Invencible and Auténtica, the one-off coupé and roadster models are the epitome of Lamborghini’s prowess, using styling cues that represent massive strides forward for the brand.
30 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 31 Cracking 0–100 km/h in less than two seconds and with an EV record top speed of 412 km/h, the Nevera’s numbers are simply stupendous. But how electrifying is it behind the wheel? L IGHTNING S P E E D L IGHTNING S P E E D By: Steve Sutcliffe | Photos: Aston Parrott
32 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 33 ou can tell an awful lot about the Rimac Nevera in the first 200 m. Not how barkingly fast it is or how far it moves the game on in the rarefied world of the hypercar – those realisations come later – instead, how polished it is purely as a product. How well built it is, how sweetly matched the weighting and gearing of its steering seems, how synchronised its throttle and brake pedals feel, how easily you can climb in and out, how clearly you can see out of it, how beautifully damped it is and how refined it is at everyday speeds. Even after 20 seconds, you can tell the Nevera rides perfectly for a car of this type. You can tell, too, how fundamentally well resolved it is from the way it filters all the unwanted stuff that goes on beneath your hands and backside, creating sound but not noise as it glides across the landscape … there’s a world of difference between those two things. From every move it makes in the first few moments you spend in it, the Nevera feels like the product of a marque that has been honing its craft for decades, not just a few years. Yet, here it is, a brand new hypercar from what is still a largely unheard-of carmaker that originates not from Germany or Italy (or England) but Croatia – and it’s pronounced “REE-mahts”. If the revelations it unleashes in the first few hundred metres are enough to fry the space between your ears, they are nothing compared with what is to come.Trust me, when you finally let it rip, the Nevera does stuff no other road car can get anywhere near right now – not even close – and not only in a straight line, but also around corners and under braking.The box of secrets it contains is as wide and deep as it gets. After several days with this extraordinary car, I am still struggling to get my head around it. What is the Nevera, and how come it’s as good as it is? As you probably know, it is powered entirely by electricity. At its core sits a carbon-fibre tub that’s not front-, mid- or rear-engined in the traditional sense because its 120 kWh battery pack is mounted across the floor to provide it with near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution. So, although the Nevera weighs a lot at 2 150 kg, the mass it carries is in the best possible place: nice and low in the chassis and not remotely stacked up at one end. I’m not convinced you’ll want to know about the cylindrical cell formation of its Y
34 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE 730 V battery pack or that it contains 6 960 individual cells cooled by liquid and made from lithium manganese nickel. It doesn’t sound as sexy as saying it’s propelled by a 6,5-litre V12 with cylinders lined with unobtanium and it revs to an ear-splitting 9 000 r/min. However, what you might be keen to know are the headline outputs this EV’s powertrain produces, along with the various methods the Nevera uses to transmit its prodigious energy to the road. It boasts four electric motors and four gearboxes; each drives one of its four wheels. According to Rimac, the e-motors at the front each produce 220 kW and 280 N.m, which gives a total of 440 kW and 558 N.m across the front wheels. At the rear, the motors are somewhat beefier and produce 480 kW and 900 N.m … each.This gives a combined total of 960 kW and 1 800 N.m, purely at the back wheels. The combined total is quoted as 1 427 kW and 2 360 N.m, which takes a few moments to internalise. The gearbox at the back is described by Rimac as a “double single-speed” unit. Essentially, a pair of one-speed gearboxes is mounted within the same housing and sits smack in the middle of the two electric motors. It is unfathomably clever. Much like the suspension … on the surface, it appears refreshingly conventional in its design. It features double unequal-length wishbones at each corner with electronically adjustable dampers all-round. In reality, it is anything but conventional. As you can imagine, traction is always going to be an issue with more than 1 400 kW on tap, and the Nevera’s uber-complex ESC system was tuned by chief engineer Miroslav Zrn evi and his team – some of whom are IT geniuses from India – to work extraordinarily well in practice.To a point where up to about 160 km/h, you never get full beans in the Nevera, not even in Track mode, not unless you switch everything off, but it’s not something you should do on a whim, trust me. Instead, the ESC constantly hunts for the best grip at each wheel, allowing either a small amount of slip or a fair bit depending on which of the five drive modes you have selected.These are Range, Cruise, Sport,Track and Drift, and each mode provides a different set of maps for the dampers, throttle, ESC, steering and aero.The aero package – you’ve guessed it – is also pretty tricky and contains “active elements” at the front and rear, as well as along the underbelly of the car. Several hydraulically operated wings and ducts are automatically deployed as the car accelerates,
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 35 RIMAC NEVERA Motors: permanent magnet synchronous electric (2 x 220 kW front, 2 x 480 kW rear) Power: 1 427 kW Torque: 2 360 N.m Weight: 2 150 kg (665 kW/ton) 0–100 km/h: 1,97 seconds Top speed: 412 km/h Basic price: ± £1,72 million (± R36,6 million)
36 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za staggering speed; equally impressive dynamics electric hypercars don’t come light (or cheap!) +
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 37 FEATURE brakes and corners, and the whole lot is controlled by the same potent ECU that takes care of the ESC, dampers, throttle, steering, brakes ... you name it. Talking of brakes, the Nevera’s feature vast carbon-ceramic discs, with six-piston callipers at all four corners. Again, these are primarily operated by electronics (although if the e-systems fail, they work conventionally, as does the steering, which is nice to know). They form an integral part of the car’s ability to regenerate power on the move, so getting them to feel natural was never going to be a matter of a moment. In any event, it took Miroslav and his engineers “a seriously f***ing long time to get them right”, but as with so many other aspects of the Nevera, the result is key to the refreshingly analogue persona on the move. Rimac Technology does a lot of work for Porsche (it owns 24% of Rimac), among other manufacturers, so its engineers know about great brakes already.They were determined the Nevera would be similarly strong underfoot, even with the intricacies of regenerative braking. All this has paid off, magnificently, because from the way it stops and how it steers, to the way it goes around corners and, yes, the ridiculous way it accelerates between those corners, the Rimac Nevera drives like no other road car … ever. From a pure speed point of view, it changes everything. Its acceleration is so total and immaculate in its clarity that when you put your foot down hard for the first time, your brain briefly struggles to process it all. It feels like you’ve left a sizeable chunk of your conscious mind way behind. It’s so quick, it makes a 1 193 kW Bugatti Chiron Super Sport seem weedy by comparison. I know this, because we had a Chiron SS along with us when I drove the Nevera. When the Nevera “goes”, your neck muscles strain to keep your head upright. You cannot help but clench your teeth hard in the same way you would if you were about to hit something coming towards you. Yet the freakiest thing is the acceleration does not tail away after a few seconds, as it tends to in all other EVs. Instead, the faster you go in the Nevera, the harder it pulls once the ESC system lets all four e-motors off the leash; it happens somewhere between 145 and 160 km/h, depending on what sort of road surface you’re on. At this point, the surge towards the horizon becomes even wilder and more intense. And it stays like this until the artificial speed restrictor intrudes at 352 km/h.You have probably read that Rimac
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 39 FEATURE clocked an unrestricted Nevera at 412 km/h, officially making it the fastest EV in the world; customers need special clearance to try that. I kept my foot in until about 290 km/h on a section of road Rimac had managed to close for our test, and it was still pulling as hard as it does at 80 km/h. Genuinely. Years ago, I drove a then-contemporary Formula 1 car around Silverstone, and it was quite punchy in a straight line. Seriously, the Nevera seems quicker than that, up to 130–150 km/h, and every bit as rapid from there on.The raw numbers would suggest as much, too. Zero to 97 km/h takes 1,97 seconds, according to Rimac, while getting from 0–160 km/h takes four seconds flat.The standing quarter-mile comes and goes in 8,6 seconds – which is pretty crackers for a road car – and to hit 300 km/h, it needs less than 10 seconds. As intoxicating as the Nevera’s crazed straight-line performance unquestionably is – to a point where I can’t imagine you could ever get used to it – what seems even more impressive, for me at least, is the level of engagement on the move. The way you can lean on it through a quick corner and
40 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE sense how much torque is meted out through each wheel through the seats and via your hands is lovely. When you select Track or Drift mode, you can slide it about a bit if you fancy your chances or tighten the nose towards the exit of a corner by opening the throttle sooner and harder. And yet it does not seem to bite. It has been set up to deliver maximum edge but also as much feel through the steering and seats as possible. As a result, the Nevera seems like the world’s fastest and most sorted BMW M3, only with four times more of everything and much nicer steering into the bargain. Making an insanely fast car is one thing, but making one that bubbles and has such delicacy to its controls at the same time … well, it is just pure genius. And if after a day of driving, you watch it reach full charge from almost zero in less than 20 minutes, it’s not long before the penny finally drops. Sure, the charging infrastructure is nowhere near where it needs to be but being able to top up the Nevera with another 480 km of range in around 18 minutes is almost as much of a game-changer. Especially when it costs no more than R600 to do so. I’m still unable to wrap my head around just how polished the Nevera is, simply as a car to climb into and drive, and to appreciate it for all the stuff that doesn’t involve moving at Mach 2: things like the quality and precise engineering of its bespoke switchgear and the way its seats serenely purr into place; the perfection of the driving position; and that the air-con works to a T; the absence of any screen reflections; clarity of the digitised instruments; and the intuitiveness of the main touchscreen. All these are routinely fumbled by some of the world’s most experienced carmakers. Rimac has got all of it spot-on, straight out of the box. It’s extraordinary. The Nevera’s biggest drawcard is inevitably going to involve the way it goes. Not the way it’s made or the precision with which it is engineered or even the way it sounds. That said, despite there being no engine as such to listen to, I defy any petrolhead not to be beguiled by the sounds the Nevera makes on the move. It is a concoction of fizzes and distant screams that become louder and more intriguing the faster you go. It doesn’t sound like a Ferrari V12 at full chat – nothing does – but the more time I spent in it, the more I enjoyed its sounds. And to reiterate, we’re talking sounds, not noises. There is a huge difference between the two, as Miroslav is keen to point out. In the end, it’s not the Nevera’s apocalyptic acceleration or its towering brakes, or even its surreal ability to deploy its energy so cleanly to the road below that blows your mind. Instead, it is how damn entertaining it is in the process, and this surely means it serves up the best of both worlds: the unrivalled straight-line insanity of a mega-high-output EV with the driver appeal of what often feels quite a lot like an old-school supercar. The result? The Nevera is way more than just another mind-warping fast EV. It’s so good to drive in so many unexpected ways, it’s like it could easily have been created by Porsche’s GT department. I sincerely hope Rimac takes this the right way because, in our world, praise does not come any higher.
HURACÁN STERRATO. BEYOND THE CONCRETE. The first of its kind, the Huracán Sterrato explores a new frontier in driving pleasure, designed to push the envelope when the asphalt ends. It has an adventurous spirit that mesmerizes the moment you set eyes on it. Every detail is a statement of its daring attitude: 44 mm higher than the Huracán EVO to ensure greater suspension travel, a dedicated iteration of the Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics system (LDVI) including Rally mode, a 5.2-litre V10 engine with a power output of 610 hp and 560 Nm of torque and electronically controlled all-wheel drive with rear mechanical self-locking differential. Like a work of art, it represents the leading edge of innovation: the super sports car concept imagined in a radically new way. Sold with a 3 year/100,000 km Driveplan at no additional cost.
LAMBORGHINI JOHANNESBURG Authorised Dealer Cnr Melrose Boulevard & Corlett Drive, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg Phone 010 020 3680 / 082 907 0222 www.johannesburg.lamborghini LAMBORGHINI CAPE TOWN Authorised Dealer 14 Dreyer Street, Claremont, Cape Town Phone 021 419 0595 / 076 611 2437 www.capetown.lamborghini
44 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE to the F o r m u l a E
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 45 From the world of motorsport comes Formula E. It’s a wide, intricate network of opportunity, not without its fair share of engaging topics, which we explored at the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix By: Brent van der Schyff
46 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE
ape Town street circuit had finally arrived! The familiar commuting routes we travel had turned into an all-out race circuit. Casting my mind back as far as I can remember, there has always been a conversation around the Mother City playing host to a motorsport event – becoming the “Monaco of South Africa”. Perhaps it was without all the glitz, glamour and palatial money boats belonging to oligarchs in the harbour, but there was a circuit, and some of the best drivers in the world outside of F1 raced the cars in front of a sell-out crowd of 25 000 people. However, there is more to it than just the racing. The economic benefit might be an easy go-to in its favour. Looking at the effects of the pandemic and just how hard it hit our tourism industry, we need to grasp every opportunity. Along with the E-Prix came famous names in motorsport and the reach of millions of smart devices across the globe and it attracted enormous investment from several big players. Tourism contributes 3,7% towards the GDP of our economy and the Formula E E-Prix is a prime event with Cape Town at its heart.Throughout the week, the media had opportunities to speak to team bosses, drivers, fellow journalists and photographers about their time in South Africa, and everyone had something positive to say. With the increased pressure of a busy week, many said they would love to return to the Mother City
48 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za FEATURE in their downtime, and others were staying on after the race. Still others such as Eddie Jordan and Adrian Newey own homes in Cape Town. Imagine the conversations with the likes of these two promoting the city in F1 paddocks. The same applies to the travelling circus of Formula E. Despite the many benefits, we cannot ignore the flipside of electric vehicles. While the European Union dictates the situation in European cities and has banned the sale of ICE engines from 2035, our position in South Africa is very different. But we can play a part in the transformation.The carbon footprint of making a car, shipping it to South Africa and producing the electricity to run it, given that more than 90% of our electrical grid is coalfired, is an inconvenient truth for those in the urban environment. Out of sight, out of mind? If you need a reality check, here it is. Cape Town is working towards freeing itself from the grip of our national service provider and reducing its reliance on coal. It aims to get entirely off the national grid through more sustainable energy projects, and this is a use case we can buy into. These events fastforward the conversation. Given all this, you may know where I am heading: load shedding.We need to peel away the layers behind this crisis. Yes, this is an electric-car race that takes place in a country struggling to keep its lights on, but this wasn’t always the case.The concept of a Formula E race in Cape Town was conjured up a long time ago, before the energy crisis. I chatted with e-Movement co-founder Iain Banner, who reaffirmed this and revealed the forward-facing strategy: if Cape Town can make good on the dream of creating a sustainable province – that does not require assistance from the national grid – events like Formula E are critical catalysts. Yes, it’s a big “if”, but like many great things, it all started with a crazy idea. Motorsport is, and always will be, the gateway for technological developments between road cars and white-cloaked science labs’ research-and-development spaces.The latest Gen3 Formula E cars have made serious leaps and bounds when we compare them to first-generation cars in terms of speed and energy efficiency. Just how they do that remains a closely guarded secret, but I spent time with the race principal of Jaguar, James Barclay, who shared his insight over dinner. All the drivetrain components are developed in-house and play a significant role in battery development. These systems are tested to the extreme on the racetrack to benefit your road
CARmag.co.za CAR APRIL 2023 49 car. Other well-known names supporting the industry include Andretti, with links to Cadillac, and McLaren with its McLaren Industries. They all help electric vehicles improve through motorsport, which is the conduit between technological developments and what you eventually see in road-going cars. Motorsport remains the ideal place to test new technology. Beneath the shiny façade, Formula E is a science experiment boasting many of the smartest engineers in the industry – such as Phil Charles, ex-Red Bull, now with Jaguar – who are all committed to improving electric mobility in one way or the other. Formula E strives to improve motorsport’s carbon footprint, and it does so in ingenious ways. Chris Short, operations manager for the Jaguar Formula E team, shed some light on this. Every tool or storage device is made from the lightest material possible, carbon fibre, and if it can be folded, it’s designed and built that way to save space during transportation and reduce weight.This “jet travel” is a sticky subject, but we did say “reducing the carbon footprint” and not removing it completely. The vision of Formula E is for Cape Town to become the industrial hub for this platform, and the more I look at it and unpack the value, the more it makes sense. For many years, we’ve been the host for driving change from wind and solar farms to other sustainable energy sources that do not rely on archaic energy production methods like coal. Isn’t this worth the investment?
The Spectre emerges out of the mist on an uncharacteristically overcast day of this exclusive drive, not only as the first electric car from Rolls-Royce, but to prove a ghost from the past right By: Alex Shahini 50 CAR APRIL 2023 CARmag.co.za DRIVE the past a ghost from ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE ETA: Q4 2023