Luxury Reviews

Five new models remain firmly in Lotus' future as the company this week threw cold water over rumours of ill health.Disruptive publicity has blanketed Lotus but the fragile sports-car maker now says it's only direction is forward. It has also enforced a closed-book approach to announcing future product - though some grains slip through the floorboards.The latest is conformation that the five-car line-up is going ahead, with the Esprit the first expected to be launched in late 2014.In Perth to launch Lotus' latest supercharged Exige S, Lotus Australia marketing manager Alastair Manihera says the $119,900 Exige S will be followed by further variants of the Exige, Elise and Evora.He also confirmed that Lotus in the UK has ``turned off its PR machine and plans no forward communication''. Pity.But Mr Manihera says the five-car plan is a definite and that demand is so strong for Lotus product at the moment that the company has opened a second production line."We are in full operation and stock is coming through,'' he says. "We have eight road models available and a ninth - the Exige S Roadster - due in Australia later this year. For Lotus, it's business as usual.''The five models planned by Lotus, displayed at the 2010 Paris moor show and shown to Carsguide at the factory in 2011 are the Esprit, Elite, Elan, Eterne and Elise. The innovative city car, the Ethos, is off the books.The Esprit is targeted for release late 2014 and wears new engineering including a rumoured 4.8-litre 456kW V8 engine, while the Elise is a new car carrying the old name and the Eterne is a four-door to take on potential rivals including the Aston Martin Rapide.Funding for the plan was to come from then owner Proton but now has been bankrolled by Malaysian firm DRB-Hicom that bought out Proton's share in January 2012.Meanwhile, Lotus will import 35 Exige S examples this year and 16 are already sold. The 35 is made up of 25 coupes and 10 roadsters that are expected in Australia in December.For 2014, Mr Manihera forecasts 120 cars for Australia and 30 for Western Australia. "That's the target,'' he says."Then we have to ensure that the factory can make enough cars for us. There's a lot of people very interested but won't commit until they've driven the car."I think also people want to be assured that there's continuity of Lotus product. On the one hand it looks bad if there's no publicity from the factory and that creates rumours but on the other hand, Lotus is flat out making cars."The Exige S is the halo car that shows that Lotus is refocused.''The Exige S Roadster loses the roof, rear spoiler and front splitter and gets a softer leather for the upholstery. The topless version, which will cost about the same as the coupe, is 10kg lighter than the coupe at 1166kg. "It's the best way to dry your hair,'' says Mr Manihera."It is limited to a 233km/h top speed (the coupe runs to 272km/h) for safety reasons as it doesn't produce the same downforce as the coupe.''The supercharged Exige is promoted as the beginning of new Lotus push in Australia. It was shown in Perth to prospective owners - five have already been sold - in a pearl white paint. Buyers will pay an extra $3750 for this coat but will also have to wait.Mr Manihera says the paint process is complex and takes a long time. "The idea is to drop this paint option until production gets up to demand,'' he says.The Exige S, which uses the same Toyota-sourced V6 engine as the Evora S - and sharing the Australian Harrop supercharger - pumps the same 258kW/400Nm but the Exige's sub-1200kg weight clips almost one second off the 0-100km/h time, now down to 3.9 seconds.A three-mode Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) system allows drivers to switch between Touring, Sport and DPM-off settings. A Race Pack option will offer a fourth mode (Race) for maximum traction, a launch control function and optimised suspension tune.The Exige S has AP Racing four-piston calipers over 350mm ventilated and cross-drilled front discs and 322mm solid rear discs with ABS.Lotus road models now in Australia are the Elise 1.6, Elise Club Racer, Elise S, Exige S V6 Coupe, Evora manual and automatic (called IPS), and Evora S supercharged in manual and IPS.Race-only cars - including Exige V6 Cup, Exige V6 Cup R, Evora GT4 and GTE - are also available for more serious players.

Is Australia ready for its first $100 grand plus Volvo? It's a tricky one soon to be answered when Volvo introduces a high performance, limited edition, 50 unit run of its striking S60 sedan called the T6 Polestar.Volvo Australia has already had a crack at a Polestar special edition a locally fettled hot-rod wagon back a year or two. It ignited a latent fire of performance car passion at head office in Sweden which quickly decided to go ahead with a pilot program of factory-built, production Polestar S60 sedans. They want to use Australia as a test case for future plans involving high performance models.And Volvo is ideally positioned to build them thanks to heavy involvement in the Swedish Touring Car Championship and other European race series through the compact Polestar operation. It's similar to Renault's RS outfit and others such as Opel OPC.So, what they've done is take a top of the range S60 T6 off the production line, rolled it into a special workshop at Volvo's factory in Gothenburg and replaced numerous standard parts with high performance items.VALUEThe Volvo S60 Polestar is estimated to retail for $115,000, and is equipped to luxury standard with all that brings but the interior is understated.Inside is pretty much standard T6 with a few changes and additional garnishes Sports seats are possibly going to be fitted but the standard re-trimmed pews were fine for everyday driving.TECHNOLOGYThe 3.0-litre engine is a transverse straight six with a new Borg-Warner twin scroll turbo achieving a healthy 257kW/500Nm output.It's sufficient to propel the 1684kg sedan from 0-100kmh in a rapid 4.8 seconds. The launch control system aids acceleration off the mark awhile the revised all-wheel drive system has a rear axle bias for a sportier feel and better acceleration.Fuel economy and emissions remain the same as for the standard T6 S60. The 2.5-inch exhaust system offers a slightly sportier note than the standard model.But there's no paddle shift and the manual shift mode goes the wrong way (on the pre-production cars driven). It's your standard performance re-engineering effort possibly a bit more advanced with a sporty suspension and brakes, more power from a new, bigger twin scroll turbo and ECU changes together with a sports exhaust. They changed the camshafts and tweaked other engine components.Bigger brakes and better tyres form part of the package as well as interior upgrades to the seats and other trim items. It has improved aerodynamics along with a revised all-wheel drive system and six speed auto transmissions.Polestar tested their engineering for the S60 on a couple of concept cars from two years back, the C30 and S60 which were hyper-performance models, boned out and ready for the track.Such is not the case with the TS60 Polestar which retains its luxury flavour enhanced by the extremely well calibrated performance upgrades. The sleek looking sedan retains everyday driveability while delivering blistering performance.DRIVINGOn the road the Polestar is a treat - quick, controlled easy to drive and with a distinctive flavour not found in other Volvo cars.We drove the fastest and quickest road Volvo ever on a variety of roads all of which posed no problem for the sleek Swede.Both Volvo and Polestar point out that the S60 Limited Edition is an everyday car and not a track car though it's very capable on a closed circuit as we found out.Though stiffer than the standard car by a longshot, the Ohlins suspension retains a high comfort level while delivering the sort of ride and feed-back you need for fast motoring.The defining feature of the Polestar S60 is its Ohlins suspension which ushers in the latest technology including multi damper settings and a clever blow off valve for big impacts. It limits the amount of bump thump transmitted into the car while retaining a sporty drive feel and impressive ride control.It can be manually set up simply by turning a dial on each damper unit for harder or softer ride qualities.VERDICTVolvo Australia is still to finalise spec' on the S60 Polestar but we reckon the cars we drove were just right.Volvo S60 PolestarPrice: $115,000 (estimate)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmCapped price servicing: NoCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 257kW/500+NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, AWDThirst: 10.2L/100km, 243g/km CO2Dimension: 4.63m (L), 1.82m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1648kgSpare: Repair kit/space-saver

To understand the brawny new F-Type Jaguar you have to forget the classic E-Type. The new beast is a throwback to the D-Type racer than dominated at Le Mans in the 1950s, not a revival of the style-driven sweetie from the sixties.It's tough and tightly-drawn, all about making an impact and going fast.Jaguar has been missing a sports car from its lineup for just on four decades, but the success with the mid-sized XF and XJ limousine have provided the cash and credentials to finally get back to the sharp end of its business. And it's way, way more focussed than the lardy old XK . . .The F-Type is great news for sports car shoppers, since it is capable of going toe-to-toe with Porsche and makes Aston Martin's roadsters look dated and irrelevant.It's not cheap, with a starting sticker of $139,000 for the basic supercharged V6 model and a top-end whack of $202,300 for the V8-powered S, but it is good value when you look at the Boxster S and 911 Cabrio which are its obvious rivals.The F-Type is strictly a two-seat convertible, packing everything from aircon and satnav to leather seats and alloy wheels that range from 18 to 20 inches. Its old-school folding canvas top does the job in 12 seconds at speeds up to 50km/h -- But 50 is just the start for a car which has been developed for fun runs on the world's favourite roads.It's a classic roadster with the engine in the nose, and eight-speed automatic gearbox in the middle - but tuned by Jaguar and ZF to give manual-style shift feel and timing - and drive to the back wheels.The engines start with the  3-litre supercharged V6 that makes 250 kiloWatts for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds, then the V6-powered S jumps to 280 kiloWatts and 4.9 seconds, with the supercharged 5-litre petrol V8 producing 364 kiloWatts for a sprint time of 4.3 seconds. The V6 S has a mechanical limited-slip differential and the V8 gets an electronic diff in the tail. There are no diesels and no fours.Jaguar has done lots of honing and fine tuning, right down to switchable driving modes and active exhausts - twin tips on the V6s, four pipes for the V8 - that cut loose a banshee howl under acceleration and a fireworks performance of cracks and bangs on twisty roads.The look of the F-Type has become familiar over the past two years and, in some ways, it's a bit like a Honda S2000 that's been in the gym. At least, that's my first impression.But after two days I can see that it's another new direction for Jaguar's design team under Ian Callum, who refuses to be predictable or boring.But the F-Type is all about driving, so here we go. The V6 is a nice car with a comfy cabin and enough power and grip for most drivers. The V6 S lifts the bar and is the Goldilocks car - just right - with real stonk in the engine room, the trick differential to drive you round corners, and the genuine speed that makes track laps in Spain both fast and rewarding.The V8 S is something else again. It's a bit heavy in the nose, which means you have to think before you turn, but the punch is truly supercar fun. And the noise . . .The F-Type is sure to be a success and Jaguar is already working on a coupe that will allow it to unleash an RS model that will be truly special. But, for now, the F is great, Jaguar is back in the sports car business, and the world seems right.

It only takes 10 minutes to get an impressive taste of the all-new Range Rover Sport. That's perfect, because we only have 10 minutes of drive time during the fact-packed press preview of the SUV sporty at Land Rover's test track at Gaydon in the British midlands.The Sport has just been cut away from the mid-level Discovery and twinned with the all-new Range Rover, a move that has created non-identical twins at the top end of the Land Rover family.The luxury Range Rover is already up and running in Australia and the Sport comes in November, with pricing still to be revealed but an impressive set of standard luxury and driving equipment.Apart from the switch to an all-alloy body, the new Sport becomes the first Range Rover with a seven-seater cabin - thanks to a third row of "secret seating" intended for youngsters - and other innovations run from a laser-driven heads-up instrument display to a torque-vectoring transmission system to improve the car's on-road dynamics.If there is one thing that points to the transformation of the Sport, it's the gear lever in the centre console. The luxury RR has a rotary control that ensures it's always a full automatic, but the Sport is a car that is intended to be driven.That also includes front seats that are set 20 millimetres lower, with a console raised by 9 millimetres, to give a more driver-focused cabin.It's easier to compare the Sport with the Range Rover than the previous Discovery-based model, because it reflects a new approach to the top end at Land Rover."We're about taking quantum leaps forward with every new model we do," says Nick Rogers, the vehicle line director for Rang Rover programs."Range Rover Sport has helped us transform our business. It's new people. They are 80-85 per cent conquest customers."The new Sport is part of the 65th anniversary celebration for Land Rover and it's about as far removed from the British off-road original as it's possible to get."It's Land Rover's take on the dynamic SUV. It's a sports tourer. The key aspect is long-range comfort," says Rogers.The unveiling of the Sport is a 'soft' launch that is big on facts and figures, but short on driving. Carsguide will have a full driving review later in the year, most likely from the off-road tracks and winding country roads of Wales, before the first deliveries - and the all-importing bottom line - in the final quarter."Pricing will be revealed in June, and it's on sale in November," says Tim Krieger, brand manager for Land Rover Australia.The new Sport is still pitched up against the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes-Benz ML, but also picks up extra points from its twin-brother role with the Range Rover.That means a choice of engines from a four-cylinder unit almost identical to the EcoBoost motor in the Ford Falcon through to a supercharged V8, a weigh loss program that's stripped more than 400 kilos - 500 with the baby four - active anti-roll suspension, an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, the ability to wade through water up to 850 millimetres deep, and true off-road capability.But the Sport turns sharply away from the Range Rover in one way."It really is re-focused to emphasise its dynamic ability. It's lower than the Range Rover, it's more agile with improved ride comfort," says Stuart Frith, chief program manager. "We wanted to transform the on-road dynamics, with impeccable composure." The bottom line is that 75 per cent of the parts in the Sport are new and different from the Range Rover.Once the technology workshops are out of the way, we get out 10 minutes of play time. Land Rover says this is not the first drive, but we're driving and we're first.But first there is time to consider the car's WiFi hotspot, the soft-close doors and electric tailgate, and a cooler compartment in the centre console that's big enough for a bottle of champagne.But that all zaps into the background as I fire the supercharged V8 for a romp around Land Rover's high-speed test track and a couple of quick laps over a ride-and-handling course.The first impression is very good, as I'm sitting in the car and not perched on top - like riding an elephant, as my colleague Stuart Martin calls it - Range Rover style.The Sport is very quick with the top-end engine, it responds enthusiastically to manual use of the transmission - with a race-style layout that means you push forward on the lever for downshifts and pull back to go up a gear - and it is quiet and brilliantly built.But it's the cornering and ride control that is most impressive.I've driven some quick SUVs, and the Cayenne GTS is my current driving favourite, but the big Brit is incredible in all types of turns. It sits flat on its adaptive dampers, responds eagerly to the wheel, and can be hustled through all types of turns without complaining.The rock-and-roll behaviour of most SUVs, even BMW's M-tweaked X5 and X6, is defeated and it runs through curves at more than 160km/h on the test track while also defeating cobblestone bumps at just 60km/h.I find myself wondering about fuel economy, and the performance of the four-cylinder starter car, and how it goes without the adaptive suspension, and just how badly it's going to hit the hip pockets of people who want one in Australia.But then I rush through another corner and the torque-vectoring driveline makes me look like a high-speed hero.It is the most impressive heavyweight SUV I have driven, even if it's only for a few minutes and only within the limited area of an artificial test track.The Sport looks terrific and the little details are great, right down to air vents for the third-row seats and a V8 performance model that will crack to 100km/h in less than five seconds.It will also lap the Nurburgring test course in just over eight minutes, a reflection of the driver focus that even includes the positioning and shape of the steering wheel.We still have to see how it goes in the real world, and at home down under, but after the first 10 minutes the new Sport is looking good. In fact, it's looking great.

The phrase ‘sport utility vehicle’ is bandied about recklessly these days, however nothing fits the SUV tag better than one vehicle just released in Australia.The new Audi SQ5 TDI is as sporty as, well, many a sports sedan – it’s the world’s fastest diesel SUV – at the same time being as functional as many all-wheel drive wagons.ENGINEPowered by a 3.0-litre biturbo V6 engine pumping out a prodigious 230 kW of power, and heavy hauling 650 Nm of torque between a low 1450 and 2800 rpm, the hot Audi -- we are told -- will hit 100 kilometres an hour from standstill in 5.1 seconds. Yet it can slip off the bitumen to take on dirt, gravel, snow or sand like any soft-road trouper. The engine features two water cooled turbochargers connected in series. A switchover valve directs intercooled air to a small turbo at low revs, with a large charger performing pre-compression. From 2500 rpm, the valve begins to open and the small charger shifts most of its workload to its bigger mate. Between 3500 and 4000 rpm the valve opens fully, the large charger taking on all the work.Backed by Audi’s six-time TDI success in the Le Mans 24-Hour endurance race, the maker says the high-performance diesel engine, with its eight-speed Tiptronic transmission driving power through the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system, needs only 6.8 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres to keep it going on the combined urban / highway consumption cycle.VALUEThis low consumption puts the SQ5 TDI under the Luxury Car Tax threshold, a saving in this case of $3000, passed on to buyers who shell out the $89,400, plus on-road costs, to drive away in one.On a run from Hobart to Launceston, including a couple of loops of the Targa Tasmania taken with appropriate driving enthusiasm, the SQ5 TDI clocked 10.3 litres of fuel per 100km. That’s a lot more than 6.8 litres…TECHNOLOGYThe first 60 vehicles to land in Australia come with added attractions: to be known as the Launch Edition, each carries 21-inch alloy wheels, Dynamic Steering, Bang and Olufsen audio system, digital radio, High Beam Assist, adaptive headlights, seat heating for front and outside rear passengers, carbon atlas inlays, privacy glass, luggage rail system in the cargo area, partition net and alarm, all for an additional $14,720, excluding premium paint.This is on top of SQ5 TDI standard fitments of MMI Navigation plus, rear reversing camera, flat-bottom sports steering wheel, tyre pressure monitor and electric driver and passenger seats with memory function, including mirrors.The S sport suspension, lowering the body by 30 mm over the standard Q5, the Audi drive select system and 21-inch wheels in five parallel-spoke design, had the car gripping the road with great effect through fast bends, while the ABS did justice to the black brake callipers. It was hard to unsettle the SUV, even on dirt. STYLINGThe sporty interior, in black, with an optional silver headlining, is designed to provide the perfect backdrop for world-champion performance. Instrument scales are grey, their needles white, while the SQ5 badge has a 3-D effect normally found in high-end watches.Features such as the S gear shift knob, S badges on the door sills, on the start button and the specially-shaped steering wheel, the S welcome screen and the light package all reinforce the special nature of the vehicle.Pedals and shift paddles have a sporty aluminium look, the power sport seats are upholstered in Pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara, and are available in three colours.On the outside the SQ5 is just as striking, with design details such as the platinum grey single-frame radiator grille with galvanised dual struts in aluminium look, the roof spoiler and modified bumpers setting the SUV apart from the standard model. Roof rail cross bars are included.The exterior mirror housings are in an aluminium look, xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights are standard and the exhaust system stands out at the rear with four elliptical tailpipes.DRIVINGHowever, it was when the SQ5 came to overtaking that the 650 Nm of torque on tap really came into its own, the car passing  slower traffic with confidence and pulling away with an assurance bordering on arrogance. In ‘dynamic’ mode, a sound actuator (loudspeaker) in a side channel of the exhaust lets out a deep growl in tune with the keen performance of the vehicle. Further ‘good vibes’ were transmitted to the passenger cabin via the windscreen, acting as a speaker cone, vibrating to the deep-throated note of the motor when urged along. Great fun.On the practical side, the car carries four drink holders, plus bag hooks. The electric tailgate can be programmed for opening height with thought for the vertically challenged.Audi SQ5Price: $89,400Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: N/AFixed service costs: NoService interval: 12 months/15,000kmCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 3.0-litre twin turbodiesel, 230kW/650NmTransmission: 8-speed auto, AWDThirst: 6.8L/100km, 179g/km CO2Weight: 1995kgSpare: Tyre-repair kit

We settled into our leather trimmed lounge seats after admiring their deep red hue, with traditional stitching that increased the upmarket image. We turned on the TV, flicked through the channels but couldn't find anything to interest us, so went instead to one of our favourite movies on the DVD player.Comfortable as we were, it was time to get moving to meet some friends at a new coffee spot they had discovered. So I fired up the supercharged V8 engine in the front of our hotel room, clicked the automatic into Drive and set off to cruise down the road.The all-new Range Rover really is like a mobile hotel room – yes, you’ve probably guessed by now that we weren’t trying to pilot a Hilton suite down the road. It just felt that way.The Range Rover Vogue SE V8 is spacious, luxurious and finished to an immaculate standard in top-line leather, timber and alloy.As regular readers will be well aware, I consider driver inattention to be the number one cause of road crashes -- so I was no longer able to watch the movie. In any case I wanted to key the details of the new coffee place into the Rangie’s sat-nav.Not a problem. We pushed the pause button on the DVD, keyed in the coffee shop’s address, then hit ‘play’ on the DVD. Julie put on headphones to watch the movie and I looked at the same centrally mounted screen to see the satellite navigation route.That’s right, the same screen. From the driver’s seat I watched the sat-nav map, from the front passenger’s seat the movie was playing. Even when your eyes see it, they don’t quite believe the stunning technology.STYLINGNew, fourth generation Range Rover is considerably larger than the original that launched over 40 years ago, but retains enough visual features to instantly make its heritage obvious. The castellations on the bonnet are shallower than we, and other purists, would like, and the windscreen slopes back significantly more than in the first three generations. But the Range Rover Vogue SE V8 turret stands aloof and makes an upmarket, perhaps even arrogant in the English manner, statement.There have been unfavourable comments about the dummy air intakes on the front doors. But as most cars have false intakes on their front guards these days it’s good to see Range Rover trying something ahead of the field. May we predict other designers will follow with their doors one day soon?ENGINESSupercharging a five-litre V8 petrol engine, as was done in our review Range Rover, results in a 375 kilowatt powerplant that can rocket this mobile hotel room from rest to 100 km/h in only 5.4 seconds. That’s amazing.Other engine options are a 4.4-litre V8 turbo-diesel (250 kW) and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel (190 kW). Range Rover calls the V8 diesel the SD - for Super Diesel - not a lot of Pommie modesty here…A supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol will arrive down under late this year.TECHNOLOGYThe previous Range Rover was disgustingly overweight. Thankfully the designers have managed to pull almost half a tonne, 420 kg, out of the new one, to bring it down to a respectable 2150+ kilograms (depending on the model). This, weight reduction has been achieved despite the vehicle being significantly larger and more spacious. Even better, the guys and gals at the Range Rover division of LandRover have made major improvements to the engines, transmissions and aerodynamics, resulting in fuel and CO2 cuts of as much as 22 per cent. That’s clever.Though it’s a superb luxury vehicle rear legroom is good without being limo like. The boot is huge and easy to load through the two-piece, horizontally-split tailgate. Our test vehicle had power operation of the gate to make life positively lazy.DRIVINGRide comfort is most impressive and the big Range Rover Vogue SE V8 shows its usual disdain for speed humps - we love it for that.Handling is tenacious rather than sporting and keen drivers won’t like the over-soft feel through the steering.The gen-four Range Rover is even more capable than its forebears in serious off-road conditions - and that’s saying something. A complex electronic system that juggles grip according to terrain combines with adjustable suspension height to provide extraordinary competence that makes even inexperienced drivers feel comfortable.VALUEPrices start at big $168,900 and range all the way up to a sky-high $240,100 for the supercharged V8 petrol. Putting the Range Rover way above anything else comparable has never hurt sales before and we certainly don’t expect anything to change with this new fourth-generation model.

Take a prestige SUV, fettle it with Audi’s race-winning diesel expertise and add volume in the form of an exhaust soundtrack. The result is the SQ5, a blisteringly quick vehicle with better handling and acceleration than just about any SUV can deliver.That it does it with a twin-turbo diesel and official fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km shows how hard the Europeans are working on oil-burners. That it does it for less than $90,000 shows how hard the four-ringed brand is trying in Australia.The first 60 cars into Australia have been fitted with a Launch Edition pack that adds top-spec bling to an already impressive package, including 21-inch alloys in place of the regular 20s, dynamic steering adaptive headlights, a Bang and Olufsen sound system and heated seats for $104,130.SQ5s from this point on will cost $89,400. That buys xenon headlamps, tri-zone climate-control, electric tailgate and a voice-controlled infotainment system. Dynamic steering is $2400 - wince and wear it.The regular Q5 3.0 TDI isn’t short of parlour tricks but the SQ5 moves that along more than a bit. A 3.0-litre twin-turbodiesel it shares with the A6 and A7 gives the SUV a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds - better than most hi-powered petrol SUVs and making this the quickest diesel soft-roader in mass production.It rides 30mm lower than the Q5 to cut the centre of gravity, has a wider front and rear track for added purchase and boasts bigger front brakes and stiffer suspension. Power is delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed auto - Audi doesn’t yet have a dual-clutch to handle 650Nm.Horizontal grille slats in the deep Audi grille are the obvious pointer to the SQ5 front-on, compared to the vertical slats in the Q5 models. Alloy-look side mirror finishes and the quad-pipe exhausts at the back are the other cues, while inside the flat-bottomed steering wheel gives away this isn’t an ordinary SUV.This is a better-stopping variant of the Q5 that ANCAP has already bestowed five stars upon.  A pair of side curtain balloons for the back seats brings the airbag count to eight and an advanced stability control program is matched to the anchors.There’s no doubt the SQ5 fulfils its brief as a fast and focused diesel SUV. Push it and the official fuel consumption evaporates into double-figure digits, but the speedo hits triple figures even quicker. It will carry two tonnes of payload and 540 litres of cargo along with a family and do it effortlessly.Taut suspension rocks the occupants over road undulations … that’s the price buyers pay for this much stability around corners. It isn’t a sports car and will push wide if too much power is applied too early. Hold speed then accelerate out and the passenger will find the leather seat isn’t quite grippy enough.Audi has found another niche and filled it before the competition has thought to act. A mid-sized performance diesel SUV is - for now - unique and the $89,400 price is compelling for those who want SUV size and performance pace.The SQ5, like many performance rivals, uses speakers in the rear mufflers to “enhance” the sound of the engine. It replaces diesel clatter with a gruff and occasionally sonorous tune but is the auto equivalent of house music.

The new Lexus GS350 Sports Luxury is designed for those who want the comfort of a five-star hotel and the performance of a sports car in one attractive package. It's a proper sports sedan with improved looks to match the powerhouse that's under the hood.VALUEThe GS350 range kicks off with the Luxury model starting from $ 89,400. For $10,000 more the F-Sport is the middle of the GS350 range and then there’s the range topping Sports Luxury (from $109,400) which we tested.In terms of value for money the differences to its German rivals are most evident in the extra standard features included across the GS350 range. There's an abundance of comfortable soft leather throughout as you'd expect from a prestige manufacturer but also a lot of extra technology thrown in.From the massive 12.3-inch widescreen dashboard display to the heads-up display projected on to the windscreen and the centre console joystick controlling the infotainment system it's all top of the range equipment. Then there's the excellent surround sound system and comfortable 20-way power adjustable front seats that you’ll never want to leave.TECHNOLOGYThe new 3.5-litre engine of the GS 350 pumps out 27 per cent more power (233kW) and 22 per cent more torque (378Nm) than the previous Lexus GS 300, and at the some time it manages to slightly improve fuel economy by 0.1L/100km. It incorporates both direct and multiport injection and provides cracking performance.Mated with a six-speed sequential automatic transmission with paddle shift behind the steering wheel, the GS 350 is capable of accelerating to 100km/h in about 6 seconds.  Fuel consumption is a little disappointing in town (quoted at 13.7 litres/100km in the urban cycle) but expect it to drop to 7.4 litres per 100 km during highway cruising. We averaged around 14.5L in our stint in this Lexus.SAFETYThe GS has a five-star crash rating and ten airbags with all the electronic brake and traction aids. Other safety aids include lane keep assist, a blind spot monitor integrated in the side mirrors, plus auto high-beam headlights which automatically dip when detecting oncoming vehicles.DESIGNThe pleasant surprise here is that the car's look improved for the better with the new GS350 range. There¹s an attractive new grille, daytime running lights and 18-inch wheels but the rear end looks a little too Toyota Camry like in comparison with the rest of the package.The interior design is where this car excels as it successfully integrates comfort with function. Controls are easy to use and the seats are so good you might even be looking forward to getting stuck in traffic. The analogue clock in the middle of the dash is something that took a bit of getting used to but it’s reminiscent of older classy luxury cars.DRIVINGIn normal driving the quietness of the cabin really stands out but the exhaust responds acoustically with a sporty note when pushing the revs up. Road noise is kept at a minimum but it¹s the engine sounds that are brought to the front without compromising the luxury feel of the car.It has a solid and direct feel and suspension is compliant over a range of surfaces. For a car of this size the driving dynamics stand out because it feels a lot more nimble than you might expect.Rear-wheel steering contributes to this improved handling. It's just two degrees of turning angle but it's has a huge impact on how the car feels. You forget all about 1740kg kerb weight with the sports mode activated and the car suddenly feels agile and ready to devour the next corner. IIt may not be as ballistic as the BMW 535i but push the accelerator hard and you'll get similar thrills for around $50,000 less.VERDICTWith vastly superior performance than the previous model the new GS350 is fun to drive but also retains the luxurious high quality interior Lexus is renowned for. It¹s packed with features, driving dynamics are surprisingly good and value for money against the German rivals is impressive. This Lexus is definitely worth a look.Lexus GS350 Sports LuxuryPrice: from $109,400Engine: 3.5-litre 6-cylinder, 233 kW/ 378 NmTransmission: six-speed sequential automatic transmission, RWDThirst: 9.7 L/100km, CO2 emissions 225 g/km

Stepping down from a $240,000 car into a $40,000 one takes some discipline. Of course it's not going to be as good, not by any stretch of the imagination. But you know what? BMW's little 116i hatch ain't half bad either. VALUE Launched in 2011 the 116i is priced from $37,300. The only option fitted to our test

Build it and they will come. That’s the rationale behind Volvo Australia’s decision to fund the development of a 50-car run of a Polestar-enhanced S60 sedan that Carsguide believes will cost around $115,000 when it arrives in late June.It’s a calculated toss of the dice for both the local arm of the Swedish carmaker and the Polestar performance division. If they get it right, Volvo won’t just be seen as a maker of safe cars and Polestar will have graduated from motorsport specialists to a factory performance outfit along the lines of RenaultSport.The rest of the Volvo empire is closely watching the Australian pilot programme to see if they too want a piece of the Polestar pacesetter.VALUEThe cost of the car has yet to be finalised but Braid says the price will be well north of $100,000. That buys Volvo’s top-spec S60 T6 R-Design with added drivetrain and suspension upgrades that have to be driven to be appreciated. Interior updates are limited to the steering wheel and seats.Polestar acknowledges the inside needs a more upmarket look to differentiate the product but says the first step is to concentrate on how the car drives, rather than how it looks. Audi’s S4 sedan is the closest competition at $120,000 … and with less Nm than the Volvo it lacks the mid-range surge of the Swedish car.TECHNOLOGYThis is the first Volvo to carry a Polestar badge on the front grille. Polestar has previously fitted its discrete blue-square logo on the rear of vehicles that have undergone ECU and transmission software upgrades but they can’t compare to this S60.The (manually) adjustable Ohlins suspension and chassis updates - a stiffer strut brace and upgraded anti-roll bars - have transformed the car into a seriously quick steerer without affecting compliance around town. The ECU upgrades and a bigger turbo endows the S60’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 257kW and 500+Nm and the transmission tweaks have accelerated the shift times of the six-speed auto in sports mode.The Haldex all-wheel-drive system has also been tuned to send more torque to the rear wheels and helps give the Volvo a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds using the launch control program.DESIGNThe custom wheels, black side -mirror covers, front splitters, a boot spoiler and rear diffuser are the visual cues this isn’t a regular S60. It is all fairly discrete to the point the “doof-doof” crew that pulls up alongside in a locally built V8 won’t have much of an idea they’re about to be hosed by a Volvo.  The seats have more bolstering in the sides and a grippy alcantara covering to stop backsides from shifting on the seat.SAFETYThe S60 is one of the safest mid-sized sedans on sale and Polestar’s upgrades have only enhanced that reputation. Improved suspension and brakes should ensure features like the six airbags and ultra-strong passenger cell aren’t needed. A “City Safe” collision prevention assistance program visually and audibly warns the driver of imminent crashes with vehicles in front.DRIVINGThis is one attractive Swede, visually and viscerally. Hit the starter button and a muted snarl announces this Volvo has an attitude, an impression that is only reinforced by the off-the-line acceleration.  The surprise is that’s the least of this show pony’s tricks. Polestar doesn’t want to challenge Benz’s AMG or BMW’s M divisions in terms of outright power, or what Braid calls “brochure bragging rights”.They do want a car that is more refined for day-to-day driving but can stick with the above duo when the roads start to wander off the straight and narrow. It will take a comparo to show if that’s the case but a seat-of-the-pants assessment indicates Volvo might just manage it on the right stretch of tarmac.Track days will be a different story though. The transmission is the weak link in an otherwise race-ready package. Having already limited the amount of torque the Polestar crew is prepared to pump out of the engine, the auto isn’t quick enough to kick down on hard corner exits.Manual mode isn’t much more responsive and the shifter is counter-intuitive, with a push towards the dash to grab a higher gear and a pull back to drop down the cogs. Polestar is already looking at paddle shifters and a dual-clutch transmission but that will take time, given the company’s insistence on testing to OEM standards. And at this stage, Australia is the only country to request the car, which limits the development budget.VERDICTPolestar’s take on building a driver’s car has produced what is probably the most family friendly four-door sedan doing the rounds. It lacks the feral ferocity of its European rivals but the AWD system gives it an edge in marginal conditions and in the right hands it will embarrass some of its better-known competitors.FACTOIDA Northern Territory man is the first to stake a claim on the S60 Polestar, having rang his local dealership to put down a deposit within hours of the first story appearing on the internet.Volvo S60 PolestarPrice: $115,000 (estimate)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmService interval: 12 months/15,000kmCapped price servicing: NoCrash rating: 5 starsEngine: turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 257kW/500+NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, AWDThirst: 10.2L/100km, 243g/km CO2Dimension: 4.63m (L), 1.82m (W), 1.48m (H)Weight: 1648kgSpare: Repair kit/space-saver