Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/887355
maltatoday SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER 2017 VI Motoring KAWASAKI will unveil a Ninja H2 derived super-tourer at this year's Milan show, completely transforming the premium fast- touring market overnight. The new continent-shrinker will be the first production tourer to use supercharger technology to deliver the ultimate blend of explosive torque and power, while also returning impressive fuel economy and Bentley GT levels of smooth refinement 200bhp of touring punch Don't be confused by the name – which we believe will be Ninja H2 SX – this is a touring bike first and foremost, not a biposto version of the formidable Ninja H2R. While it won't be short of power, the development team have concen- trated on delivering incredible mid-range drive and fuel range. That means superbike levels of power and torque, while sipping fuel at the rate you'd expect from the firm's normally aspirated 118bhp Versys 1000. MCN's Japanese source also revealed that the reworked H2 engine, which has been remapped to deliver around 200bhp at peak with a tangible boost to the mid- range punch, could also be the first outlet for Kawasaki's variable- boost supercharger. The firm showed an engine at last year's Tokyo show which boasted vanes on the supercharger's inlet that opened and closed via a mechani- cal actuator. Rumours suggest this actuator has been replaced by a smaller and lighter integrated electric motor which will power the vanes – tuning the super- charger's supply of air according to the rider's throttle inputs. The ultimate GT The rest of the bike promises an equally premium experience. That means we're expecting the next generation of Kawasaki's huge compliment of electronic rider aids all controlled by an inertial measurement unit to knit together cornering ABS, traction control, anti-wheelie and multiple rider modes. The H2 SX would also be the perfect candidate for semi-active suspension system – something we've not seen from Kawasaki yet. In addition, we'd expect to see class-leading attention to tour- ing considerations, with a full TFT dash and integrated satnav functionality, electronic screen, headed grips and seats, full media connectivity and keyless ignition. Honda are on the eve of unveil- ing their radically revamped Gold Wing, and BMW have already set the bar high with their ballistic K1600GTL. There's an increasing glut of super-high-end versatile adventure-sports bikes, too – like Ducati's Multistrada S Touring – so Kawasaki have to arrive in the market with something phenom- enal. And the information seeping out of Japan suggests the H2 will be exactly that. The Versys 1000 and Z1000SX families will remain, while the 1400GTR, has already ceased production as a casualty of Euro4 regulations. But with the Ninja H2 costing £25,499, and the track-only H2R a marriage-wrecking £47,000, can the new SX and GT meet market expectations? The indications are that the base H2 SX will start at around £20k, while a fully-laden GT might be more like £23k – putting it firmly in the same realm as the Gold Wing and K1600GTL. Kawasaki poised to reveal Ninja H2-powered super-tourer Scotland accelerates ban of petrol and diesel automobiles by 8 years Highlights • 200bhp supercharged tourer • SX and GT spec versions • Class-leading fuel consumption • High-end spec as standard Variable boost supercharger The new super It's got supercharged SX appeal SCOTTISH National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon recently made an an- nouncement that they were looking to axe the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2032, which is a full eight years before the UK. Sturgeon outlined the plan in September to encourage people to make the switch to electric vehicles and to drastically ex- pand the network of charging points and to set up pilot projects in Scotland. A tough goal This commitment has been made to combat the negative health impact that poor air quality is having on residents and follows plans set out by France and major cities such as Mexico City, Athens and Madrid. However, much like the UK, a great deal of uncertainty is in the air as to whether or not this is achievable. This is, in part, due to the current economic and political climate in the United Kingdom at the moment. As a result of this uncertainty, it has seen the sale of new cars in the UK take an enormous slump in 2017. September is usually a key month for new car sales due to a change in license plate series, but sales dropped 9% from last September and sales have fallen for six months in a row. This is a clear indication of the UK's low buyer confidence and hesitance to make any major financial decisions. Alternative fuel sales The sales of alternatively fuelled ve- hicles accelerated by a staggering 41%, which shows that the public is preparing for an all-electric future. In addition to preparing for the ban, motorists are also making the change due to Government incentives and because there are many excellent electric and hybrid vehicles cur- rently on the market. Making the switch It is easy to see more and more motor- ists make the switch over the coming years and especially in Scotland which now has a shorter timeframe for motor- ists to switch. With so many motorists changing cars, it is vital that they are careful and take steps to avoid scams and fraud. This can be achieved with an HPI Check, which provides a detailed vehicle history report. This will indicate any ma- jor issues, including outstanding finance or reported as stolen, and allow the mo- torist to make an intelligent decision. It is an interesting time for the automo- tive industry in the UK right now. This is particularly true in Scotland, where this latest announcement has made motorists think about switching to eco-conscious automobiles sooner rather than later.