Luxury Reviews

Mercedes-Benz E 250 convertible is a classic Benz soft-top with styling that looks great whether the top is up or down. VALUEThe E250 convertible is all class with quality leather finishes, an elegant and understated dash arrangement. Power seat settings are on switches on the doors, easy to find and use compared to those unseen switches on the side of the seat in other marques.The satellite navigation works well, although we found the voice commands didn’t always work, probably due to the extra road and wind noise entering through the soft top.TECHNOLOGYWhile the ‘250’ in the name might suggest otherwise, the engine is a 1.8-litre four cylinder unit that’s turbocharged to add a lot more grunt than you probably expect. Naturally there’s some turbo lag but it’s minimised by clever engineering.Get the engine on song and over 2000 rpm and the E250 really takes off. Acceleration from rest to 100 km/h is in the high seven-second range. More importantly, the in-gear acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h lets you overtake safely in a minimum distance.The use of a seven-speed automatic transmission aids in the engine’s ability to deliver, providing low gearing for around town and to get the engine revs up when overtaking, then slipping into high gears for lazy highway cruising. The tall gearing also help reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.Most owners will find the big convertible using about seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres on the open road, a figure that will rise to a still reasonable eight to eleven litres around town.DESIGNWe like the swooping bonnet and prominent grille and the rear end is set off by a subtle ‘ponton’ bulge over the rear wheel arches.The E 250 is a four seater with each seat tailored to individual passenger comfort. The front seats are spacious and have multiple adjustments that provide exactly the sort of pampering we love in a car of this class. Immediately you sit in the front seat the E 250 seat belts are delivered just next to your shoulder via an extension arm.The back seats aren’t too bad for legroom though there is usually the need to compromise with those in the front. Entry to and from the back seats isn’t easy - not an unusual problem in this class of vehicle, but we have experienced worse.Head room in the back is low enough to cause hassles for those on the tall side but is great for kids - probably the main occupants in a car like this so that’s seldom going to be a problem. These comments are for the E 250 with the roof closed - with it open the sky is the limit in headroom.Boot space isn’t too bad with the top up, naturally some space is lost when the top is down. Check for yourself before buying, but a sensible choice of luggage makes the E 250 more practical than you might anticipate.SAFETYThis big Merc convertible has a five-star ANCAP crash rating. It has no fewer than nine airbags, including a pair of headbags in the front seats.Roll-over protection includes two bars behind the rear seat backrests. If the crash detection electronics sense danger the bars are rapidly deployed upwards to proved head protection. The sturdy windscreen pillar can also absorb a lot of crash loading.VERDICTCombining elegant class with the prestige of a Mercedes-Benz three-pointed star and you get a practical convertible for not a lot over $100,000 - a good price for this class of car.RANGEE250 CGI 1.8-litre petrol two-door convertible: from $107,850 (automatic)E350 3.5-litre petrol two-door convertible: from $131,600 (automatic)E500 5.5-litre V8 petrol two-door convertible: from $188,635 (automatic)E250 CDI 2.2-litre diesel two-door convertible: from $111,450 (automatic)Mercedes-Benz E250 Convertible Price: from $107,850Engine: 1.8-litre 4 cylinder turbo, 150kW/310NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic, RWDThirst: 7.1L/100km

The Lexus IS 250C has been with us for a long, long time and the convertible is due for a reboot soon along with the rest of the range, heralded by the new model unveiled at Detroit motor show this week.Meantime, to help keep sales bubbling, and capitalise on the success of the F-Sport trim level – which takes up 30 per cent of IS sales -- there is now an IS250C wearing the F badge on the front quarter panels.With the F-Sport adding some visual and chassis changes it is a genuinely different car – not as distanced as, say, BMW's M Sport packages, but enough for us to have another look.VALUEThe IS250 F-Sport sits in the middle of a three-tiered convertible range. The IS 250C Prestige kicks off at $76,800 while the $94,800 Sports Luxury puts $13k of clear air between itself and the $81,800 F Sport.The headline items on the F Sport include sat-nav, Bluetooth, reversing camera and front and rear park assist, LED daytime running lights, Xenon headlights, new grille and front bumper and graphite 18-inch alloys.All are powered by the same 2.5 litre V6, good for 153kW and 252Nm of torque. Combining variable valve timing and direct injection, the powerplant is properly Lexus - revvy, but so, so smooth.The interior also benefits on the F-Sport - silver stitching on the leather, sports pedals, a new roof lining and unique seat and dash trim. The seats themselves are electrically operated as is the steering wheel, which adjusts for reach and rake. The seats have three memory positions, which also store the steering wheel position. The front seats also score heating and cooling.Our test car also had the active cruise control and pre-collision safety system, which is standard on the Sports Luxury. The same enhancement pack brings the 12 speaker Mark Levinson stereo with bluetooth and USB connectivity, adding $4615 before luxury car tax.The IS250 benefits from Lexus' 48-month/100,000km warranty and as a Lexus owner, you'll never need to darken a dealer's door again - as long as you own the car, the company will fetch it from you when it requires a service. Alternatively, if you so choose, Lexus will supply a loaner while your car is serviced. You won't get that as "standard" from the European marques.Volvo's folding hardtop C70 T5 is as close as you'll get for a genuine competitor. The T5S starts at $61,950 and packs Volvo's characterful (and thirsty) Ford-sourced 169kW turbo five cylinder. It's as slow as the Lexus, uses more fuel and is not a sharp drive.The T5 (yes, the pricier version has a shorter name) adds full leather, different steering wheel and stereo and adds adaptive headlights and Volvo's renowned safety innovations. Both block and parry each other for specification items but the Volvo's newer design is more coherent.The fabric-roofed BMW 3 Series Convertible range starts at $81,318 for the 320d. Developing 135kW and a muscular 380Nm of torque, the diesel will carry you to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds and a combined fuel figure of 5.1l/100km. You will need to tick a few boxes before achieving the same spec level as the Lexus but there's also a lot more stuff to choose from.After-sales service doesn't come close to matching Lexus' generous offering and, like the IS, the E93 is soon to be sent on its way. Audi's A5 Cabriolet is Audi's closest contender, which starts at $77,779 for a 125kW 1.8 TFSI litre petrol engine, and that's before the addition of the F-Sport equivalent, the S-Line. The A5 bests the Lexus' fuel figures, but struggles with rather less power.It also has a fabric roof and substantially less equipment. Like the BMW, many boxes will require ticking to match the Lexus' specification. The range stretches to the $100,108 3.0 TFSI quattro. A slightly left-field alternative is the sober Volkswagen EOS which starts at a tick under $50,000 for the 103 TDI and just over that mark for the 155TSI.DESIGNThe IS 250C was introduced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and…well, is showing its era. From front bumper to the A-pillar, the 250C is as elegant as its gracefully ageing sedan sibling (introduced in 2005), or would be were it not for the tacked on plastic pieces that form part of the F-Sport package.From top of the windscreen back -- and with the roof up -- it looks slabby and a bit of a mess. The roof's arc doesn't gel with the rest of the design or identify well with the sedan, and the result is ungainly. The wheels look too small and the accommodation for the folded roof called for a rising beltline that magnifies the boot's size and deck height. Lexus designers have tried to disguise the rump by increasing the size of the rear lights.Once the roof is folded away, the proportions do improve, but it's impossible to hide that very high-set backside. Another sign of the IS250C's age is that the car must be stationary before you can fold or unfold the roof, while many rivals allow a gentle pace to be maintained during the roof's operation.Being a Lexus, fit and finish is exceptional. Even on this older design, everything is tight and the paint is beautiful. The roof's folding operation barely makes a sound and what little you do hear are reassuring clicks, clunks and whirrs. Materials in the cabin are like any other Lexus, with soft-feel plastics and supple leather on the seats.It's clear the dash wasn't really intended for a convertible as the central screen is angled the wrong way -- with the roof stowed, sunlight reflects into your eyes and obscures the screen. The main dials, though, are super-bright and set deep into the dash.The 250C could kindly be called a 2+2. There is no centre seat in the rear and passengers would have to be of the short, tolerant variety, with cropped or no hair to suffer the strong buffeting from the wind at speed.TECHNOLOGYThe IS250C shares the 2.5 litre V6 with the sedan. Despite its advancing years, there are few engines that match it for smoothness and refinement. Direct injection and dual variable valve timing help the unit to 153kW at 6400rpm and 252Nm of torque at 4800rpm.The car needs every last kW and Nm, however, as it weighs in at a portly 1700kg. Missing is stop-start for fuel saving, which would be handy given its true thirst of 11.5l/100km. The IS350's 3.5 litre V6 is not available in Australian-delivered convertibles.SAFETYSix airbags, including two kneebags (in lieu of curtain airbags) are fitted to the IS250C. Active safety features include ABS, brake force distribution, traction control and stability control. A rear-facing camera is essential and, thankfully, standard on the IS250C - you can't see a thing behind you and it's almost impossible to judge where the elephantine rear ends.DRIVINGWith the roof up, the IS250C's on road dynamics are not far at all from the 250 sedan's. The overall road manners of the F-Sport are, if anything, an improvement despite firmer springs and dampers and bigger wheels. The F-Sport chassis tweaks reduce roll and introduce a little more discipline.The 250C's rear-wheel drive dynamics are still apparent, but the extra weight of the 250C's bracing blunt the handling. Turn-in is a little woolly and it understeers a lot earlier than you might expect. With the roof folded away, things begin to deteriorate.While it's no Saab 900 convertible (which had all the structural integrity of Rolf Harris' wobbleboard) the steering column shakes in corners and over sharp bumps and ridges in the road. It's not encouraging, but nor does it ever lose composure.The giveaway that the chassis isn't coping is the way the front tyres sound like they're struggling for grip even at low speeds, trying to keep everything on the straight and narrow. Then again, chucking an IS250C through corners is missing the point.It's far more of a boulevardier, a car you buy to carry you between fun things while letting you have fun on the way. It's far more enjoyable if you ease off and let the car dictate your pace. Through it all, however, the ride is impeccable, even with the F-Sport's firmer disposition. It suits the character of the car perfectly without letting things get out of hand.The engine struggles with the extra weight but, like a good butler, never lets you know it's under pressure. The transmission is sometimes a little jerky on the upshift, but only under a more-than-moderate throttle or after an abrupt lift-off. The six-speed transmission can be actuated with steering wheel mounted paddles that are actually nice to use.While the gearbox claims to be intelligent, it takes too long to drop a gear or two on steep descents. This is a problem while using cruise control as you can't depend on the car to stay near the speed you've chosen, requiring your intervention to slow the car.The electric power steering system is well-suited to the car, but keen drivers will notice a lack of feedback. Our test car was fitted with Active Cruise Control, part of the Enhancement Pack. This option is a double-edged sword -- you won't have to monitor the car in front but it lulls you into a state of apathy -- you'll occasionally peer down and realise you're dawdling along much slower than the speed you've set because you're behind a slow-moving vehicle. It's far more useful in urban motorway traffic rather than outright freeway cruising.VERDICTThe IS range is not long for this world but for most buyers, it's hardly an issue. As a relaxed cruiser and almost-practical coupe, the IS250C is hard to beat as long as you aren't expecting class-leading anything. It's probably as middle of the road as it's possible to get but at the same time leads the way on build quality, noise and driving refinement -- the engine and ride are true standouts in a pretty good package.However it uses a lot more fuel than most of its competitors, is down on performance and some people will find the looks challenging. But to many buyers of a car like this, none of that really matters. You can't help but enjoy a car like this with the roof down on a beautiful summer's evening. Added to that, the IS250C stands alone in this class by having the security of a hard top roof and that might just be enough to clinch it.Lexus IS250C F-SportPrice: from $76,800Engine: 2.5-litre 6-cylinder, 153kW/252NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, RWDThirst: 9.3L/100Km, CO2 219g/km

The Audi Q5 makes up 20 per cent of all Audi sales (not just SUVs) so is vitally important to the company in Australia and a major reason why the latest facelift and upgrade has been rushed downunder.The ongoing slow automotive market in Europe is to the benefit of Australian buyers. The local importers have added extra equipment as standard, but have either maintained the price to the old level, or made very small upward adjustments.The complete Audi Q5 range is Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic from $62,200, Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro tiptronic from $62,900, Q5 3.0 TFSI quattro tiptronic from $74,100 and Q5 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic from $75,500. Additional gear includes an electric tailgate on all models and multiple crash avoidance or mitigation electronics.The Audi Q5 comes with roof rails to which horizontal crossbars can be attached to carry a variety of loads, again just right for a long-distance family adventure. As soon as the crossbars are fitted a message is automatically sent to the vehicle dynamic electronics to advise it a roof load is being carried and the centre of gravity of the vehicle has been raised. That’s clever.At each stop in the South Australian desert we tested for signs of dust entry and found not the slightest trace of the talcum-like red dust that covers most of Australia. We were particularly impressed by the ‘clamshell’ design of the rear hatch as it not only kept out the dust, but also created a clean area all round the edge of the boot opening thus protecting fingers and clothes from becoming stained.As a real bonus the clamshell hatches, as used on all the Audi Q range, also provide a neat styling theme. Visually, the changes see a bolder shape to the familiar Audi 5‘s single-frame radiator grille. This time the stylists have put a strong emphasis on the vertical lines by way of brightwork details, and a bold shape by flattening out the top of the grille.The bumpers have been restyled, with the rear diffuser looking tough. The daytime running lights (DRLs) now wrap all the way around the new design of headlight housings. Something that created a spooky effect, presumably unintended, when the Q5 is looming out of dusty Australian desert tracks.We tested petrol and diesel units in both four and six-cylinder format - receive anything other than coolant at the correct temperature. Believe me, if you’re miles from nowhere in central Australia and come across overheating problems it can be a traumatic occasion - I’ve experienced it myself and it’s not nice...The 2.0 TDI diesel engine is new to the Q5 range in Australia. It produces up to 130 kW of power and maximum torque of 380 Nm represent gains of 5 kW and 30 Nm over the previous model. The six-cylinder 3.0 TDI diesel engine has been thoroughly revised, with its weight trimmed by 25kg. Peak power is now 180 kW, with maximum torque being a stump pulling 580 Nm.The V6 3.0 TFSI supercharged petrol engine is completely new to the Audi Q5. Peak power and torque (200 kW and 400 Nm) give sporting performance and V6 petrol Audi SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds.We went off-road driving in a 4WD. A couple of decades back such a statement wouldn't have meant a thing, after all 4WDs were designed to go off the beaten track and that’s precisely where their owners took them. These days very few people are looking for anything other than a macho-looking people mover when they buy an SUV (as most 4WDs are called these days) so it gave us great pleasure when the Audi importer invited us to the middle of nowhere to test its revitalised Q5 midsize SUV.Obviously keen to prove the Q5 is more than a toy in real off-road running, the Audi press department took selected journalists on a light-plane ride north from Adelaide. After touching down at Leigh Creek we found various variants of the upgraded Audi Q5 waiting for us to explore the surrounding desert.We then spent almost 100 kilometres in midday heat driving over dust, sand, rocks and across dry river beds, with stops along the way for sightseeing and taking photographs. Exactly the sort of trip an adventurous family would tackle. With the temperature nudging 45 degrees as we got off the plane the first thing we learned was that the German marque’s air conditioning system wasn’t fazed by the Australian summer.Running the ‘air’ on the recirculation setting we were able to pull the temperature down to 24 degrees and keep it there without the slightest suggestion the cars’ cooling systems were struggling.Having proven its Q5 is the real deal in the desert Audi Australia no doubt hopes to make it popular with adventurous Australian families who want more than a mere tough looking people mover.

I know what you’re thinking: not another electric car story. But, please, hear us out. This one is a little different – it’s “normal” to drive.It’s brought to us by Tesla, the electric-car start-up co-founded by Elon Musk, the entrepreneur who set up PayPal, sold it for a tonne of cash, and now launches rockets into space under contract for the US government.His side project is to accelerate the adoption of electric cars by promising to address the big problems: driving range, recharging and price. We’ve heard the promises before but, shock, horror, this one delivers.To learn more about the technology, Tesla started five years ago with an electric roadster (based on a Lotus sportcar) that could out-sprint a Porsche to 100km/h.It then broadened its reach by contracting electric-vehicle technology to Toyota and Mercedes-Benz – the world’s biggest car maker and the inventor of the automobile. Not bad to have in the resume.Not it has built its own, ground-up model: a sleek five-door luxury hatch about as big as a BMW 5 Series sedan.The Model S went on sale in the US late last year and is due in Australian showrooms by the end of this year.VALUEThe Nissan Leaf is $50,000 and is the size of a Pulsar hatch. The Holden Volt is $60,000 and the size of a Cruze sedan. So Tesla offering a large luxury sedan from $60,000 is something of a minor miracle.The line-up has two other models, with more power and more driving range as the price increases to $70,000 and $80,000 respectively. The RRPs are realistic because Tesla has had significant funding from the US government. But the company insists it will be viable within a few years.Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed but the top-line Model S will likely cost $80,000 to $100,000.The company plans to build up to 100,000 electric cars a year, after ramping up to 25,000 in its first full year. Tesla bought an old Toyota factory that was sold cheap in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. It helps that Elon Musk is friends with Toyota boss Akio Toyoda.TECHNOLOGYTesla has ingeniously integrated the battery pack into the completely flat floorpan, the core structure of the car. The design is likened to a skateboard because it enables Tesla to add other body types to the same simple layout at a later stage (a seven-seat SUV-style vehicle is due next).The large electric motor fits neatly at the rear and is available with a choice of two power outputs. Three types of battery pack are available for three levels of driving range (260km, 370km, 500km).Tesla keeps the batteries cool by using smaller lithium-ion cells than other electric cars. But the coolest part of the car has nothing to do with being electric: it’s the massive 17-inch touchscreen that’s in the dash.It controls radio, air-conditioning and navigation – which has the option of using Google Earth or a stencil map. Google search will also navigate to the nearest point of interest.Other cool stuff: the door handles retract when the car is parked and when you’re on the move (to reduce wind resistance). The aero rating is an industry-leading 0.24cD, the third best in history and the slipperiest automobile on sale today.It’s other party trick: a “supercharger” that enables the Model S to be topped up in less than an hour. Normal recharging is up to 8 hours.ACCOMODATIONThe Tesla Model S looks small but it’s massive inside. The boot (894 litres) is bigger than that of many SUVs.The big screen TV takes some getting used to but you can dim the display with a few taps of the screen.On close inspection you can see some component sharing: the indicator and wiper stalks, steering wheel and power windows switches are borrowed from Mercedes-Benz.SAFETYIt’s fellow start-up Fisker, not Tesla, that’s in the news for having its electric cars catch fire. That said, Tesla did recall 439 roadsters in 2010 for a potential fire fault – with the standard 12V battery, not the lithium-ion pack that powers the car.Tesla says it has not had a report of a fire risk since and tests its vehicles to Toyota and Mercedes-Benz standards.The Model S passes US crash test requirements but is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP. The company forecasts a five-star safety rating based on internal testing. Eight airbags (two front, two knee, two side and two curtains) and stability control are standard.DRIVINGHere’s the big surprise. It goes like a V8 AMG Mercedes, accelerating hard instantly. And then, miraculously, it doesn’t run out of puff.Most electric cars have a bit of zip at first but then suffer an asthma attack. The Tesla Model S feels like it could go forever. Unfortunately, speed limits dictated that we wouldn’t find the limit of its potential.The other thing that had me scratching my head was how well the Model S handled bumps even though it rides on massive 21-inch wheels and low-profile tyres. It felt as smooth as a Rolls-Royce but handled with the finesse of a BMW.Key to its success is the fact that it has the centre of gravity of a sports-car. Because the battery pack is also the floor, it’s barely 12cm off the ground and makes light work of the low-slung aluminum body.On the California coast road I’m not cursing the traffic, I’m praying for a red light so I can feel the acceleration again. It’s epic. AMG and HSV drivers won’t know what hit them. When we eventually head for the hills, the handling feels agile, the steering direct.The brakes, supplied by Brembo, have an impressively normal feel – unlike other electric cars that tend to have an initial dead spot before biting too hard. If Tesla can make decent brakes on an electric car, why can’t other manufacturers?The Model S may seem an oddity to the mainstream but enthusiasts and those with a passing interest in cars should ignore this car at their peril.If this is the electric car of the future, count me in. 

They're still the epitome of British pace, space and grace. Although Jaguar is now owned by the Indian company, Tata Motors, the change of ownership hasn’t affected the very Britishness of its vehicles. Back in the 50s and 60s Jaguar used the slogan “Grace, Space and Pace” and while there may be question marks around the rear seat space in the XF there’s no argument about the other two.Jaguar XF 2.0 comes in two variants, Luxury and Premium Luxury. As well as the standard safety features (multiple airbags, enhanced ABS brakes package and electronic stability program) the XF Luxury comes with front and rear parking sensors, brake pad wear indicator, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers and semi-adjustable power front seats.For an extra $6510 the Premium Luxury adds 18-inch alloy wheels (17-inch in the Luxury), reversing camera, folding side mirrors, full leather trim and fully-adjustable powered front seats. Both models come with an alloy space saver spare wheel.And then there’s the pricing. When the first models in the XF range arrived here in 2008 every one had a six-figure price tag. At $68,900 the new XF 2.0 is not only around one-third cheaper than that, it’s also about $10,000 below the corresponding entry-level models from Audi (A6), BMW (5-Series) and Mercedes-Benz (E-Class).Jaguar’s 2013 model year upgrade also included the option of a new 3.0-litre V6 supercharged engine meaning that all five Jaguar XF engines now have some type of forced induction. Completing the ticking of boxes the price of the XF 2.0 Luxury, at $68,900, is just over $20,000 below that of the equivalent 3.0.Such have been the advances in engine technology in recent years that, despite having a capacity around one-third smaller, the new XF 2.0 produces both higher power (177 kW compared to 172 kW) and torque (340 Nm versus 284 Nm) outputs than the outgoing naturally-aspirated V6.At the same time fuel consumption drops from 10.5 litres per 100 km to 8.9 L/100 km, and emissions from 249 to 207 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.Although it’s tuned differently, the engine is the same as that in the Ford Falcon EcoBoost that recently took out the Australia’s Best Car award for Large Cars Under $60,000. It’s also used in the Ford Mondeo, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander. In the Jaguar, it gets the added advantage of being mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, now standard across the XF range.There’s certainly a gracefulness about the XF that sets it apart from its German competitors, both on the outside and inside. Its renowned designer, Ian Callum, has managed to combine a contemporary appearance without losing the traditional Jaguar looks demanded by potential buyers.So there’s a large radiator grille, circular headlights that are faired into the bonnet, swooping lines and a cat-like rear end. We just love the elegant simplicity of the XF’s interior that includes air vents and a mouse-like gear selector that retract when the engine is turned off.There’s plenty of space for front seat occupants, including a surprising amount of headroom. Things aren’t so good for those in the rear seats with minimal legroom when the front seats are at their limit. Headroom does decrease but wasn’t as restricted as we expected.We were able to drive both the Luxury and Premium Luxury versions of the Jaguar XF 2.0 from Sydney to the Central Coast on a mix of motorway, urban and rural conditions. Such was the smoothness and refinement from the new engine that it was easy to forget that it only had four cylinders. There is just a touch of turbo lag but no more than in its competitors.We love the firmer ride of the latest XF and the extra feel for the road that it provided once we hit the back roads, yet it’s had little or no affect on comfort and absorbed the occasional pothole without causing any wincing from the occupants. Even with the four-cylinder engine this very affordable Jaguar has all the hallmarks of an excellent long-distance cruiser.While the route chosen for the test was fairly benign there were enough hills and bends to show that the big Jag to be nicely balanced with responsive steering.The new Jaguar XF 2.0 ticks all the right boxes.

The Tesla Model S is the first battery-powered vehicle that actually makes senseI'm in a carpark in downtown Los Angeles being shown around the Tesla Model S, the electric car from the outfit that made the Tesla Roadster. There are lots of unusual things about this luxury sedan but inside is one thing that has me captivated.VALUEIt's an enormous screen, easily the largest I've seen in a car, angled towards the driver and looking exactly like an oversize iPad. It controls all the functions; there are no buttons. To open the panoramic glass roof, for example, there's a slider graphic you move with your finger, alongside a crisp overhead image of the car. As the glass opens, so does the roof on the image of the car. There are no predetermined positions -- set it anywhere. It's slick.Little icons across the top of the screen direct you to other menus. The logic is child's play, there's internet and you can pinch to zoom. It feels Apple to the core, so I ask. Nope. All our own work, says Asia-Pacific director Kevin Yu, who's back home in California for a few days from his post in Tokyo. There's little missing in the car in terms of expected technical features at this level, with adaptive suspension, three grades of steering weight,TECHNOLOGYYu was one of the first customers when deliveries began in June and his car was No 23 off the line. The first 1200 cars delivered in North America are all Signature models, with a high level of specification and the most powerful, 85kWh battery, which gives a range of 480km. Yu's goes one better: its Performance spec is also very quick: zero to 60mph (96.6km/h) in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 209km/h.The Signatures have already sold out and Tesla is starting to make standard cars that offer less powerful batteries, although even the 40kWh base car does the sprint in 6.5 seconds and has a 250km range. Tesla is a child of Elon Musk, who created Paypal, and its ethos is shot through with Silicon Valley can-do. Many employees are ex-Paypal, including Yu, and their confidence with the software and battery technology is palpable. “Batteries are a commodity,” Yu explains, “and they're going to get cheaper.”It's how you link them, control them, keep them at a constant temperature and exploit their potential that is Tesla's strength, he says. The recharge plug is hidden neatly behind one of the rear lamps and comes with adaptors for virtually any situation. At home, it can be plugged into a 240V socket overnight or charged more quickly via a special wall-mounted unit. The battery pack forms the floor of the car and helps give structural rigidity. The motor is mounted at the rear to drive the rear wheels.DESIGNThe Model S is a 5m long sedan that weighs 2.3 tonnes. There's cargo space front and rear, and two optional rear jump seats for children mean it can carry seven if required. The Model S, unlike the Roadster, which was a Lotus Elise stuffed full of phone batteries, is unlike anything else on the road. Almost nothing, beyond the window switches and steering column wands that I recognise from Mercedes, is familiar.Where Silicon Valley know-how was not enough, Tesla spread a global net to recruit talent from across the car industry. The design chief, Franz von Holzhausen, worked for Mazda and GM, and can be credited with making a large sedan almost sexy. The cabin has a modern, architectural feel. The seats, incidentally, are by Australian outfit Futuris. It's a convincing luxury statement with plenty of road presence.SAFETYIt comes with eight airbags and, I'm increasingly unsurprised to learn, electronic stability control that was done in-house. No job too big.DRIVINGIts range is such that Yu explains he typically does the 600km from LA to San Francisco with a three-stop strategy, topping up for just 15 minutes at one of Tesla's solar-powered “superchargers”, which cost owners nothing. That's no longer than a typical bathroom-and-drinks break. Because the batteries recharge like the ones in a phone, drawing down a lot of juice quickly when they're most depleted, he could skip one of the stops and spend 30 minutes at one of the stations for a half-fill. It all sounds, well, pretty much like what you'd do anyway on a trip of that distance.But on the stop-start freeway traffic one or two wrinkles do emerge. There's no hill-hold function, so on an incline it will roll back as your foot moves from brake to throttle. At least it doesn't have one yet; when Tesla has written the software, the car will simply download the upgrade from the internet. Another issue at crawling speeds is a stutter when you lift off the throttle. It's the motor reversing polarity, turning into a generator to harvest the deceleration energy. Yu assures me it's noticeable only at 15-20km/h, and when the traffic finally moves it's gone.There aren't many corners on the way to Hawthorne so I learn little about the car's dynamics, although it does have that weight-in-the-floor feel typical of electric cars and that gives a distinctive quality in bends. But I'd be encouraged to explore its potential on a country road. Acceleration is blistering. Eight-lane freeways can be hectic places when you're unsure if your blind spots are covered and rear visibility isn't a strong point, although not a deal-breaker. The Model S will leap between lanes if needed.VERDICTThe Model S outperforms any other electric car available on range, yet is bigger and more practical. 

A new era of style-driven wagons is adding class to the traditional load-lugger and the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake leads the convoy.

Mercedes-Benz surprised the motoring world in 2003 by launching the CLS four-door coupe. People said a coupe could not have four doors and that the CLS wouldn't work.Tens of thousands of sales have proven the doubters wrong and cheekily, Mercedes has introduced what it calls a coupe-estate, a stylish five-door CLS station wagon. Or rather a CLS Shooting Brake.The name shooting brake was coined centuries back for horse-drawn wagons used to carry shooting parties to country estates. Over 100 years ago the term reached the automotive field when Rolls-Royce built what it called a shooting break. We first admired the stylish Mercedes CLS wagon at the 2010 New York Motor Show and later attended its world debut at the famed Brooklands racing oval in England. Now we have finally had the chance to drive one in Australia.Priced from $129,000 the most fascinating thing about the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is that it exists in a field of one. Sure there are other upmarket competitors, but none of them has the style and elegance of this one.Jaguar has already shown a concept of what it calls a Sportbrake at recent European motor shows and it will be interesting to see if other topline marques try to chase Mercedes into what could become an expansive niche in the market.At the rear the roof slopes down in a similar manner to that of the CLS four-door coupe. We particularly like the way the side windows finish at their rear point and love the old-style shiny finish that surrounds them. A nice retro touch. Inside, the Shooting Brake is finished in quality materials giving a pleasant appearance and a warm ambiance. In very Mercedes’ fashion there are easy to read dials that will be familiar to all Mercedes owners.While the Shooting Brake’s shape is unashamedly sleek it doesn’t do too badly in the practicality stakes. The rear seat has good headroom and legroom and we would have no problem sitting back there for a long interstate trip. Sensibly, the rear area is set up for two individuals, however there’s also a somewhat cramped centre seat so five can be carried for short, but not particularly comfortable trips.Luggage space is surprisingly good as well, the extravagantly long tail of the Shooting Brake means substantially long objects can be transported. However, large boxy items are restricted by the slope of the roof. In a lovely touch harking back to the days of the horse drawn shooting brakes and the old motor wagons, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake has the option of a mahogany timber-lined floor complete with shiny cross bracing.Two versions of the CLS Shooting Brake are now on sale in Australia, the $129,000 250 CDI powered by a twin-turbo diesel engine producing up to 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque. Its official fuel consumption rating of just 5.5 litres per hundred kilometres means it avoids some Luxury Car Tax (LCT).Then there’s the 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit in the CLS 350 Shooting Brake comes with 225 kW and 370 Nm. Its fuel usage of 8.2 litres per hundred kilometres means it attracts the full ire of the Australian taxation people, as LCT adds a whopping $26,277 to the price, bringing it up to $173,000.On the road we only had the chance to test the four-cylinder CLS 250. It has plenty of performance, indeed we suspect the great majority of owners would never ask for more. Once minimal turbo lag has been passed the engine has strong acceleration. Overtaking speeds, typically getting as fast as possible from 80 to 120 km/h are despatched quickly to maximise safety.Road noise is well damped, though we suspect there may be slightly more intrusion into the rear of the cabin because of the wagon body. Comfort levels are high and this is the sort of car that could transport four people across vast expanses of Australian countryside, leaving them cool and relaxed at the end of a long day’s driving. Handling is neat and precise with good steering feel and the ability to get the large Shooting Brake hustled into corners with ease.

It’s a pity that in sharing its underpinnings with the newer Evoque, the Freelander gave up its place in the compact luxury SUV sector. Now, this week in Canada, Freelander takes bits back from Evoque and again proves a strong contender to other European SUVs.The changes aren’t big - the replacement of a petrol engine with a new motor and some trim changes, with new paint and better finishes. But they should be sufficient to at least hold its own. Meanwhile, Land Rover is in an enviable place. Sales are booming - up 41 per cent globally on the same period in 2011 - and are so far ahead of predictions that it finds itself unable to quickly introduce new models.Pricing changes with the deletion of the 3.2-litre in-line petrol six-cylinder version and the replacement with this one, the Si4 with the Ford two-litre EcoBoost engine. But they don’t get cheaper. The old 3.2 SE was $52,510 and the incoming Si4, which is in showrooms now, is $55,600. Yes, the feature list is improved and the SUV gets some small exterior trim features to lift it a bit.More interesting is the upgrade inside. It looks better by borrowing a lot of switchgear from Evoque. It gets a far superior audio - standard is a 380 watt 11-speaker Meridian but a 825W 17-speaker is $1815 more - while sat-nav returns in-house with a $2500 tag.A rear camera and leather is standard as is 18-inch alloys. Build quality is up and in warranty terms, Freelander remains the most trouble-free Land Rover. Spec can be similar to rivals but remember this is a wagon that actually can go off the road.The good news and the bad news are the same - no change to the look. Yes, there are small changes to the headlights and tail lights and the grille has edges. The alloys have a new pattern. Not much else outside and that’s excellent because this is one neat hauler. Inside the Evoque switches lift the Freelander from Discovery to Vogue grade.The wagon still feels small inside compared with the Volvo XC60 but many buyers don’t need the extra space. For me, it is very well proportioned and just the right size.The main change is the introduction of the new Ford 177kW/340Nm two-litre engine. This engine is in practically everything - Ford Falcon and Focus, Volvo XC60 and S60, Jaguar XF and Caterham - for good reason. It replaces the thirsty 179kW/320Nm inline six-cylinder petrol which continues in one of the Volvo XC60 models.The gearbox remains a six-speed auto and drives all wheels continuously. The clever Haldex clutch that spreads the power to the wheels with traction also remains. New is a smart electrical system that only allows the alternator to charge the battery when the battery needs it. It saves fuel this way. There’s also an electric park brake that adjusts itself to ensure the car remains stationary.This is a five-star rated wagon - note that the sister car, the Evoque, is a four-star - with seven airbags, all the necessary electronic braking aids and extras like roll mitigation. The rear camera is standard and includes a guide path and also a new “hitch assist” that takes the towball directly under the trailer’s coupling. The spare is full size. There’s also heated side mirrors.Land Rover has honed the Freelander range and while the diesel was driven, I concentrated on the new petrol mill. From experience in other cars, we know this is an excellent engine with heaps of grunt and reasonable economy. The weight of the Freelander (1775kg plus occupants and fuel) slows down the engine’s verve a bit.The brick shape of the wagon also makes the engine noise apparent and though it’s minor, it’s more audible than say the Falcon model. An excellent seating position, great visibility (thanks to slim pillars) and comfortable seating makes any driver feel at home. Same with the location of controls.The touch screen gives quick access to data and sat-nav (optional) graphics are a decent quality. The engine’s response is aided greatly by the six-speed auto. Though the box’s mapping tries to maintain a higher gear - to improve fuel economy - it has a manual mode. Despite its smallish cabin dimensions, the Freelander feels “right”. It’s easy to park, manoeuvre in tight spots and solid on the open road.It can’t shine in the spotlights like Evoque, glide expensive city streets like the Range Rover or mercilessly pound the deserts like the Discovery. But despite a wave of luxury SUV rivals, the Land Rover Freelander does an exceptional job of being good at everything from toughing it out in the dirt to scrubbing up for a night out. 

Turbo power is coming to the Kia range. And, after a test drive in the United States this week, it can't come soon enough.The car we drove was the stunning looking Optima, but instead of the usual 2.4-litre engine this one was fitted with a more powerful, 2.0-litre turbocharged motor. It pumps out just over 200kW of power and is much more satisfying to drive, with considerably more torque that kicks in much earlier in the rev range.The figures tell the story - 250Nm at 4250 versus 365Nm at a low 1750 revs. Made only in left hand drive until now, Kia has managed to overcome the engineering impediments to building a right-hand drive version which is starting to roll off the production line as we speak. Optima is due for an upgrade shortly, so the timing couldn't be better.CONFIRMEDAlthough he confirmed the company was looking at turbocharged engines - and had been interested for a long time - a spokesman for Kia explained it had a number of options - not just the Optima. One of those is a turbocharged version of the cool, two-door Cerato Koop (Cerato is called Forte in the States where it is Kia's most successful model).A new Cerato starts to roll out in Australia from early in the new year, kicking off with the sedan, then the hatchback and finally the coupe.THE KOOPThe spokesman said the 150kW turbocharged engine from the Hyundai Veloster would slot straight into the Koop. By way of explanation Kia is owned by Hyundai and the two share much of their architecture. But before giving either option the green light, Kia would first have to put together a business case for approval by head office in Korea.“It's not my decision but if asked the question I'd have to look at what is best suited to our market,” he said. He added there would be no need to have a naturally aspirated variant as well as a turbo. “It (a turbocharged Koop) may not be a best seller but it would create important interest for our brand,” he said.THE SEDANNo one has seen the new Koop as yet -- it won't make its debut until later next year - but the sedan showed its face this week at the Los Angeles motor show. The Kia equivalent to the Hyundai Elantra, it is cast in the same mould as the Optima, with sleek sporty lines and the signature Schreyer face.Longer, lower and wider, the second-generation Cerato is 30mm longer (4560mm), 14.0, 15.0 or 16.5mm lower (1435, 1445, or 1460mm) depending on market and 5mm wider (1780mm), with the wheelbase extended by 50mm (2700mm) making it the longest in class. It will be hooked up to Kia's six-speed auto, which delivers an ideal combination of power and economy.NEW FEATURESThe hydraulic steering has been replaced with adjustable electric steering that allows the driver to set the level of assistance. Other options include stop and go which shuts down the engine at traffic lights, as well as heated and cooled seats, a hated steering wheel and satellite radio - we certainly won't be getting the latter at this stage.New Cerato can accelerate to 100 km/h in as little as 8.5 seconds, reach a top speed of 210 km/h while using a claimed 6.5 litres of fuel per 100km – depending of course on model. Boot capacity is increased to 421 litres (SAE) – the largest in class. Kia Australia has just about finished tuning the ride and handling to meet Aussie tastes, a feature sought after by customers.GT POSSIBLEAnother turbo option is the gorgeous Pro_c'eed GT hatch from Europe, a highly spec'd model that also comes with a turbocharged power plant. As to the introduction of an entire line of sporty vehicles, much the same as Hyundia's recently announced SR range, the spokesman said there were no plans at this stage. As yet, it does not sell enough cars here to support such a move.THE DRIVEFrom the word go it was apparent that the turbocharged Optima is much better to drive. It's quicker off the line and pulls more strongly in the mid range and, with much more torque - the transmission isn't nearly as busy as in the 2.4. Although it was fitted with the same 18 inch wheels as the Australian model, the ride was much smoother on American roads. In Australia, we reckon the 17s are a better option. One major difference between the two models is the electric parking brake that replaces the foot operated brake in our cars).VERDICTThe addition of turbocharged models to Kia's Australian line-up will attract attention and buyers. The cars look great and the extra power will enable them to compete at a higher level, especially with its German competition. It just has to be careful it does not cannibalise sales from other models.