Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/467065
XII maltatoday, Sunday, 22 February 2015 It is all too easy to take the modern car for granted. Most of us simply un- lock the door, climb in and when we turn the key or push the start button the engine fires up. Reliability is such that formerly essential supplies such as jump leads, WD40 and spare oil and screenwash have probably found their way into the garage instead of the boot, rendered obsolete. Is our nonchalant attitude fully justified, though? Leaving out simple, but essential, checks can leave us with unwanted maintenance bills and even unsafe vehicles. Here are some things even the clueless motorist can do to keep their ride in good condition and without nasty surprises at the mechanic. The tyres are arguably the most abused parts of the average automo- bile. Heavy kerb-bashing can cause a bruise or bump in the rubber, so feel around the tyre face to make sure yours are in good order. Next, inspect the tread depth. The legal limit is 1.0mm, with most tyres starting life with 8mm. You can use a special gauge or the edge of a coin to check. The less tread you have, the worse the tyre is at displacing water and there- fore performing on wet roads. This ultimately means that if the tread is at an illegal level, it's unsafe. Moving on to visibility, a chip or crack in the windscreen in line with the driver's sight can be hazardous. Most insurance companies have a windscreen claim facility, so ask your provider about this add-on to your policy. Visibility also includes the condition of wiper blades and whether there is sufficient screenwash - the cap for this reservoir is usually yellow and bears a symbol indicating its purpose. Running out of screenwash is poten- tially very dangerous, particularly after one of our muddy rain showers. Then there's your lights. It's so easy to check these, yet many people seem to have no idea they are driving around with only one headlight or rear light. It's all about being seen, so make sure you clean the lenses regularly, too. Oil and coolant (a mixture of water and antifreeze) are two vital ingredi- ents to keep an engine happy. Failure to check both, or letting either get too low, could lead to some scary bills, the worst being for catastrophic engine failure. The oil needs to be changed when a service is due, indicated on the dash- board display or in accordance with the manufacturer guidelines in the handbook; time or mileage, whichev- er comes first. However, to maximise the life of your engine, it's best to change the oil once a year, regardless of whether the car needs a service. Waiting for the oil warning light to come on is certainly not a good idea, because this can actually indicate low oil pressure, which often signifies that the damage has already been done. The level on the dipstick should be between the maximum and minimum marks. Many fairly new cars burn quite a lot of fuel until the engine beds in, sometimes getting low in between service intervals, so it is best to keep checking. Never be tempted to overfill the engine to compensate for losses such as this, however. As for the coolant, there will be a measure indicator on the header tank. The coolant mixture needs renewing in accordance with the manufac- turer's instructions. Another important tip is to keep an eye on your dashboard and look up any warning lights that appear. Many modern cars alert us even if a bulb has failed, usually with a beep first, and then the illumination of a light. A particularly scary light for diesel car owners is the one for the diesel particulate filter. Read the manual to find out how to regenerate the filter without having to buy a costly replacement as a last resort. Finally, listen to your car. Are there any strange knocks or grinding noises coming from the engine/wheels/not sure where, but I can hear something funny? If so, take the car to your trusted mechanic because a problem diagnosed early might prevent a much larger bill further down the line, as well as ensuring your car is in the best possible shape for facing challenging driving conditions. Checking and servicing are es- sential for mechanical longevity and safety. Setting aside no more than 15 minutes every week could save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds and will ensure you are less likely to suffer a breakdown, or worse still an accident. Motoring MOTORING maltatoday Keeping your car in good shape MOTORING maltatoday MOTORING MOTORING maltatoday, Sunday, 22 February 2015 New Generation i20 wins prestigious design award Hyundai Motor has once again received international recogni- tion for its vehicle design from the prestigious iF Design Awards jury. The New Generation i20 has won the 'iF Design Award 2015' in the "Product" discipline, under the "Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes" category. The award recognises the refined design of the newest addi- tion to Hyundai Motor's car line- up. The distinctive appearance of the New Generation i20 was inf luenced by the latest interpre- tation of the company's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, characterised by the car's clean and elegant lines and the promi- nent hexagonal grille that marks it out as a Hyundai. The team from Hyundai Mo- tor's Design Centre Europe in Rüsselsheim, Germany paid particular attention to achiev- ing balanced proportions. The front-end design and long hood create a powerful stance, and the gloss-black C-pillar deliv- ers a unique f loating-roof mo- tif. Inside, the driver-oriented cockpit features extensive use of soft-touch materials, as well as subtle piano black inserts and chrome detailing, to create a modern and sophisticated interior package. Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Hy- undai Motor Group, said: "It's an honour for Hyundai to be once again internationally recognised in the iF Design Awards, with New Generation i20 following the success of All-New Genesis last year. Design plays a core role in shaping our brand and driving consumer pur- chases of Hyundai cars, so we're delighted to receive such a prestigious accolade from a respected authorit y on design." For over 60 years, the iF Design Awards have been recognised as a worldwide symbol of design excel- lence. Organised by iF In- ternational Forum Design GmbH, the awards recog- nise outstanding design across various disciplines and categories. The jury awarded the sought-after prize to Hyundai 's New Generation i20 following a rigorous judging proc- ess, involving almost 5,000 entries from 53 countries. "Recognition in the form of this latest iF Design Award further confirms the important transfor- mation in Hyundai 's design espe- cially in these last few years. Hy- undai 's vision for the brand is to create more connections with our customers. Design is the ultimate expression of a brand and its val- ues as it establishes the connec- tion. The new generation Hyundai i20's design has evolved in a way that captures a lot of what Euro- pean drivers look out for in a car and this is what is the direction that is connecting Europeans to Hyundai on an emotional level," said Francesca Mamo, Managing Director of Meridian Enterprises, local importers of Hyundai.