Articles by Bruce McMahon

The FJ Cruiser is more than a distinctive face in today's herd of four-wheel drives.  For not only does the FJ pay homage to the original FJ LandCruiser of the 1960s through to the 1980s it is also an honest off-roader. Loaded with style and some faded memories.The FJ began life as a Californian styling exercise, Toyota looking to find more market appeal among younger buyers. By 2003 there was a concept, the Rugged Youth Utility, and by 2005 a production version launched into the United States.There are three heroes here: exterior designer Jin Kim, interior designer Bill Chergosky and chief engineer Akio Nishimura.  The three worked in unison to keep the FJ simple, stay true to the tradition of that iconic original and Kim's original vision; there were few compromises between concept and production.That's resulted in a good-looking machine with many practical touches, few electronic do-dads and a fair swag of off-road ability.  For Toyota this is the 'go anywhere, do anything' machine designed to attract younger, active lifestylers and at a more than reasonable price.   VALUEAt $44,990, the FJ is Toyota Australia's most affordable 'proper' four-wheel drive wagon. It is $500 dearer than the all-road Kluger and $11,000 cheaper than the three-door Prado, probably its closest competition.A four-door, hardtop Jeep Wrangler starts at $40,990 and has the advantage of petrol and diesel powerplants, manual and automatic transmissions; a two-door Wrangler starts at $31,590 but can't offer as much room and on-road comfort as the FJ.The new-boy Toyota - one model grade only - arrives with electric windows, air conditioning, six-stacker CD player with USB, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors. The floor is covered in a rubber-like compound, and the five seats are water-repellent; value-added material in an adventure machine. TECHNOLOGYToyota has eschewed many of today's electronic driver aids for the FJ, citing the need to keep the machine honest, more onus on driver ability.  But not offering multi-terrain settings and hill descent controls and such is also in keeping with the brief to keep the wagon affordable.Instead what's here is the smooth four litre V6 petrol engine and five-speed automatic transmission (both borrowed from the Prado), a two-speed transfer case, a lockable rear differential, vehicle stability control and traction control, all packaged in and around a shortened Prado platform.There are no plans at this stage for a diesel engine and there's a 20kg load limit on the front bumper, limiting the use of big bull bars and winches. Apparently testing weights hanging off the front of the chassis rails (a different construction to Prado) to Toyota standards would have taken too long and stymied its Australian introduction; this matter may be left to the aftermarket crowd. DESIGNDesigner Jin Kim drew heavily on the original design. (That and an American pit bull with its chunky, forward-leaning stance.) An original FJ sat in the studio as Kim worked though he was after its essence, its DNA rather than a retro design.So the FJ has round headlights, a mesh grille with Toyota badge (rather than the corporate bull horns) an upright windscreen, two-door style (with clever rear access doors), white roof and wrap-around rear windows. It also sits on tall rubber and 17-inch wheels. All this colours the FJ with yesteryear hints, adopted and adapted into an aggressive 21st century stance."It looks very serious, purposeful, indestructible," says Kim. "At the same time it looks fun. It is balancing all the opposing elements - serious playfulness."Retro-inspirations are carried through to the cabin, a wide and spacious affair up front; roomy but cosy in the rear seat. The speedometer is painted up like the original, there are body-coloured panels, and big, chunky door handles and such.It is a substantial vehicle and attention to what went before enhances the FJ's off-road and weekend adventure credentials - the big wheels add ground clearance, short front and rear overhangs make for better approach and departure angles, a hose-out interior should make cabins easier to clean while big controls makes it easier to find the right settings.SAFETYPassive safety features include six airbags and active head rests on the front seats. There's good visibility to the front and sides and, where compromised by the rear-mounted spare wheel, there's a rear view camera.Clever B pillars are incorporated into the forward-opening, rear access doors. Active safety features include switchable traction control, stability control and ABS with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist. Just as importantly for safer driving, the FJ's suspension and steering were tuned for Australian conditions over 100,000km of testing.DRIVINGThis is a comfortable and competent machine, on and off the road.  The experience begins with that wide, high and handsome cabin; from the get-go the FJ feels substantial. Controls and instruments are big and easily identified, no hunting for miniature controls or worried something's about to break off.Down the tar the first thought is the steering response a little remote but after a day, and particularly in the rough, it is familiar and well-weighted. (Toyota engineers suggest off-road feel was more the priority here.) Ride quality is impressive, the FJ rarely loses composure on bitumen or dirt.The big V6 is smooth, nicely mated to the five-speed auto with plenty of punch for a 1955kg wagon. It runs easy to the maximum 200kW at 5600rpm and, with 310Nm of torque from 1200 rpm (lifting to 380Nm at 4400rpm), highway cruising and overtaking are never an issue. Those torque figures also translate well to off-roading. Where some may dismay the lack of a diesel, this engine and transmission acquit themselves well when the going gets slow. Low-low range is more than adequate for an auto and there's good engine response for the quicker parts of the track.And off-road those big and proper 17-inch wheels, short overhangs front and rear, good ground clearance and a wheelbase that allows for good ramp-over angles are complemented - where needed - by the lockable rear diff and Toyota's Active Traction Control, a switchable traction system to control wheel slip. Yet for the most of it, the FJ will go a long way before these aids may be needed.VERDICTThe Toyota FJ Cruiser is one of those rare cases where form and function mesh into a most stylish machine with real off-road credentials. The lack of a diesel engine may inhibit sales but will not inhibit the FJ's status as a hero machine in the Toyota fleet.

While this back-raked and crouched wagon makes some of today's rivals look a tad dowdy, it also offers a real challenge to the big names in terms of driving dynamics - on and off the tar.This is the third generation of a Korean machine that until now has been, for all its honest virtues, a bystander in the biggest game in town.Compact SUVs are hot in today's marketplace and the herd continues to grow, especially now there's the option of two-wheel drive machines alongside all-wheel drive variants in many marques.And this time around Kia's Sportage offers a choice of drivetrains, transmissions and powerplants, starting at $25,990 and running through to $38,990. All wrapped up in a good-looking and most usable wagon, an urban warrior with dirt road credibility.  We've been out and about in the Sportage SLi diesel which sits in the middle of the new pack.At $10 shy of $35,000, the SLi diesel with six-speed auto offers a fair range of equipment, style and space. SLi's carry dual zone air conditioning, reversing camera alongside the usual host of today's comfort and convenience features; it misses for little and outdoes some rivals in this class. The engine/transmission package plus Australian-tuned suspension adds to the inherent value here, as does a full-size spare wheel.As one of the newest of the bunch, the SLi Sportage carries a swag of the latest gear, including rollover sensor, downhill brake control and hillstart assist alongside speed-sensitive steering, stability control, ABS and all-wheel drive. There's the rear view camera, automatic headlights and a six-function trip computer. The sound system features CD player plus MP3, USB and iPod connectivity.This is a bigger Sportage than before - longer and wider, albeit lower in the roofline. It takes Kia's cheeky new grin up front, a clamshell bonnet, raked-back front screen and narrow windows for a sporting approach to the SUV business. Sleek but muscled-up.This new-found style carries through to an accommodating cabin, it's a decent size for four adults while the interior layout is both usable and attractive ahd the cargo area is a reasonable size for a compact wagon.  And the Sportage is more than just dynamic in style; Kia spent time on designing a chassis to suit Australian conditions.The Kia Sportage scores a maximum five stars in the Euro-NCAP ratings.  Among passive safety aids there's attention to body structure and strength plus six airbags and active head restraints.  Then there's a raft of active technology, including ABS, stability control, a rollover sensor and hillstart assist. There's all-wheel drive available and, on SLi and Platinum models, a tailgate-mounted rear view camera.While the Kia Sportage is an easy town car, keeping the traffic honest and easily slotting into the local shopping centre parks it is at its best as an enthusiastic tourer, willing to take on the lumps and bumps of backroads with composure and willingness.Ride and handling is well-balanced, suspension soaking up rougher roads without losing traction when pushing along. Visibility, driver comfort and the chassis's sure-footedness are added safety and fun features on the open road.  There is the smallest hesitation at the steering wheel before the Kia turns in with authority and grip; just a small protest from those front tyres in tighter corners taken at speed, spiced with a hint of body roll.But there is a confidence here that (without the family aboard) allows for press-on motoring over mountain roads; all within the speed limits but at decent A-to-B pace.Much of this exuberance arises from the Kia powerplant and six-speed transmission, willing participants in chasing down the kilometres. For best results use the gearbox's manual mode to keep the 135kW diesel beyond 2000rpm; sometimes this means dropping back as low as third for best effect.All this fun-running didn't do a lot for fuel consumption, the best was 8.2 litres per 100km through the hills; around town that ran up to 9.5 litres per 100km.  The Sportage tracks fine down a dirt road, loose surfaces rarely unsettling the balance. For more difficult tracks the drivetrain can be locked into a 50:50 split, the let-down here are the tyres, rubber more suited to bitumen (or beach) than a bush track.  Ground clearance at 172mm could be an issue for some.The Kia Sportage is among the best of compact SUVs. Perhaps not everyone will agree with the rakish style, perhaps some prefer a more cubed machine for this type of cross-over vehicle.Yet the sleekness of the Kia's body style does not hamper the wagon's versatility as a family carrier; the smartness of the interior does not deter from its practicality.  On top of all that there is a well-behaved chassis driven by an excellent engine-transmission combination. All wrapped in a safe, and value-packed, package.

The best, the most satisfying, are the ones furtherest from the hordes.  Queensland: A little isolated and forever enchanting, this outback stretch running west from Winton to Boulia throws up spectacular hills, colourful mesas and rock formations. It is a relaxing, wild-west run on reasonable bitumen, broken if need be at the iconic Middleton pub about halfway along. And there's a deal of white man's history to consider through here, from Waltzing Matilda to the mysterious Min Min light. *360km*two-wheel drive*take a camera*musts: the Waltzing Matilda Centre (Winton) and the Min Min Centre (Boulia). New South Wales: The Alpine Way is at its best in spring with new growth showing, the snow melting and the roads flowing.  There should be less traffic and more time to stop and marvel at the views, the region's history plus the wonders of the Snowy Mountain Scheme. While the Alpine Way proper runs between Jindabyne and Khancoban, a day's loop from Cooma could also take in Cabramurra, Australia's highest township. *Alpine Way 105km*drive to suit conditions (could be slippy) *stop at Dead Horse Gap, the highest point*check out the Tom Groggin camp ground (closest two-wheel drive access to the Murray's headquarters) Victoria:  A meander along the mighty Murray River could take a few days; from Tom Groggin in the Snowy Mountains to Goolwa this offers ever-changing landscapes, roads and people. Maybe take a week and explore countryside from wombat-infested mountains to the pelican territory of the Murray's mouth. There's river boats (even a Catalina flying boat at Lake Boga) and some most pretty towns to discover. *Approx. 1700km*Vanners should start from Albury*Spare time for Echuca and its riverside treasures*Drop in at the Banrock Station winery and wetlands*Don't miss the picturesque port of Mannum South Australia: The Birdsville Track is one of those few drives that retain a sense of adventure. Running from Marree in the state's northeast to Birdsville in Queensland the track runs through the magics of desert country with red and brown horizons that stretch forever, broken in parts by isolated oases of welcome green. And this track, no matter how tame it may seem in spots, always demands respect - which makes the beer taste better at day's end. *520km*check track conditions before setting off*ensure the vehicle's in good condition *think about a second spare tyre*camp out at the Mungerannie pub, 210km north of Maree   Western Australia: The famed Gibb River Road from Kununurra and on to Broome is not for everyone. Parts of this long haul through the Kimberley can rattle fillings from teeth, punch holes in tyres and shake up relationships. But it tracks through some of Australia's most stunning scenery. And - if running from east to west - it magnifies the delights of Broome at journey's end. *660km*best in a four-wheel drive or high-clearance vehicle *check road conditions before setting off*slow down to suit conditions if road corrugated *take spare fuel and perhaps a second spare tyre Northern Territory: Alice Springs is a lively town, full of colour and movement. But to appreciate the Red Centre take a day and drive the Larapinta-Namatjira loop through the Western MacDonnell Ranges. This run showcases the vibrant colours _ whites, reds and greens _ captured in Albert Namatjira's landscapes and offers the country's best swimming holes. The loop is mainly bitumen but there remain dirt sections where a little extra care may be needed. *375km*check in town or Hermannsburg for maps and any permits*take a towel, togs and camera *take a picnic or leave time for lunch at Glen Helen*take it easy on the unsealed sections

It marks a return to the main game for Owen, second at Bathurst this year with Jamie Whincup and already a two-time Fujitsu champ.  "It's a great Christmas present - a great sponsor, great team and a great car," said Owen, himself the owner of a blue heeler."I've proved (this season) that with a good car I can drive straight to the front. All the ingredients are here and I don't think we'll be far behind those Vodafone cars at all."The new, all-Queensland venture, sees VIP Petfoods return to V8 Supercars and Paul Morris Motorsport continue their technical alliance with Brisbane's Triple Eight Race Engineering. Morris will run two cars in 2011 with Russell Ingall in the Supercheap Commodore and now the 36-year old Owen replacing Kiwi Greg Murphy.Along with undoubted speed Owen, who ran endurance races this season with the Vodafone-backed Triple Eight, will bring initiatives and ideas learnt from that outfit.  A confident team owner Morris reckons Owen will be fighting it out for podiums, warning some of the series 'seat warmers' better move over: "This thing (Commodore) will be up the front."As for VIP Petfoods owner Tony Quinn, a part-time racer, motors racing is about promoting his business.  "I'm a pet food maker that's found motorsport does wonder for the brand," said Quinn. "It's up to Steve now."

ONCE - well back down the track - there was some scoffing at the baby SUVs, those soft-offroaders. Problem was not necessarily with the vehicle, more the marketing and the owners expecting these machines to follow LandCruisers through thick and thin. Things have settled down in more recent seasons, more people aware

The local story began back in the 1950s when construction magnate Sir Leslie Thiess imported a handful of the original Cruisers for work on the the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. The LandCruiser, in many guises, went on to become a popular series of work, and then play, trucks.Toyota Australia's sales and marketing director says LandCruiser has demonstrated its competitiveness and dependability since the first prototype was delivered in January 1951."LandCruiser underpinned Toyota's development in Australia and, in many regional and remote areas, remains the vehicle of choice in tough conditions where quality, durability and reliability are paramount."The Cruiser park includes 280,000 wagons, including the current 200 Series; 310,000 'military' versions as seen in the 70 Series line-up; plus 160,000 LandCruiser Prados. Next year the range grows again with the retro-inspired, short wheelbase FJ Cruiser.And in this 60th year of the Japanese four-wheel drive Toyota Australia has released a limited edition anniversary model. Based on a 200 Series GXL, the special adds leather interior trim, satellite navigation and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System to the package.

... with an all-wheel drive, 2.4 litre petrol Highlander joining the turbo diesel Highlander at the top of the range.  The engine's already available in the mid-level trimed ix35 Elite AWD but almost half the local demand's been for Highlanders. Here the four cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual mode and pumps out 130kW at 6000rpm plus 227Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Hyundai's ix35 range is also available with a 2 litre petrol engine in the entry level Active two-wheel drive model while the turbo diesel engine is available in mid-trim ix35 Elite AWD and ix35 Highlander AWD models. List prices start at $26,990 and run through to $38,490. The new petrol-engined Highlander starts at $35,490 before on-road costs.

Because the Altitude Blue Navara out front looks that bit bigger and bolder than the black dual cab D40 that lives around here. Sure, this upgraded version is a little longer in the nose with revised grille and front bumper adding 80mm to the length. Sure, these ST-X versions now sit on 17-inch wheels and theres more

IT'S nice to see the Italians back in town. Once upon a time streets were sprinkled with Fiats and Alfa Romeos. Lancias too.Back in the sixties, into the seventies and eighties there were Fiat 850s, Fiat 124 coupes, Alfa GTVs, Alfasuds and Alfettas roaming Australian roads. There followed a dearth of Italian product for a few seasons and many reasons.Things are looking brighter these days. Maybe there's not quite the range once enjoyed here but machines such as the Fiat 500 (especially the CC) and the Alfa Brera do brighten the streetscape, breaking up the monotony of all those German runarounds.There is more passion in the style of today's Italians over most Euro rivals; maybe the Italians are considered quirky and chancy in some quarters but they are rarely dull.Latest in the ranks is Alfa Romeo's MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde MulitAir, a very handsome three-door with a clever and spirited engine. As it should be.At just shy of $35,000 before on-road costs, the MiTo QV is not the cheapest of three-doors but is packed with a swag of comfort, convenience and safety features plus clever mechanicals. And it carries a good deal of style, heritage and sporting character; things hard to pin a dollar value on.This Mito's MultiAir motor is 2010 Engine of The Year, acknowledged for a clever variable valve timing system that helps the Alfa to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds while offering a reputed 6 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. There's also Start/Stop technology here, allowing the engine to turn itself off when stationary and idling, automatically restarting when the clutch pedal is depressed.And then there's the switch allowing a driver to choose between dynamic, normal and all-weather modes.  This changes the MiTo's dynamics by adjusting engine, steering, suspension and gearbox outputs. Most sporting.Inside and out the MiTo is covered in class. The interior sports a tidy array of switch gear and comforts with chrome and carbonfibre highlights. The exterior is a piece of auto art, with a sweet face and big shoulders separated by coupe-like profile, design cues taken from the striking Alfa 8C Competizione. It is a small car with a big presence, designed to scare the likes of VW Polos and such.The MiTo arrives with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, seven airbags and hazard lights which fire automatically under emergency braking. Active safety includes ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution plus traction and stability programs to resolve any loss of grip, whether down to surface or driving issues.The MiTo QV is a feisty six-speeder, best driven in dynamic mode for extra turbo boost and more torque. It also stiffens up suspension, weights up the steering and everything happens that bit quicker and sharper.  Much more better (even if there's less ride suppleness through the potholes).The only supermini problem here is the cramped footwell for taller, big-booted drivers; these types may also find forward visibility a little restricted by the roofline and rear view mirror. But the nature of the little beast nipping at the heels of bigger machinery will always bring a smile. The 'normal' setting for engine and all feels a tad doughy after a run in 'dynamic'.The Alfa Romeo MiTo QV is hard to ignore. It adds a deal of ingenuity and excitement to this compact compact class. It mixes class with charisma; it has street presence. Maybe it is not cheap for a small car but it is never dull.

And while the first will be the tiddler of the bunch _ the all-new Micra arriving next month _ there's a good deal of firepower on the way. Plus some bragging rights to be bandied around. For the past 18 months, says Nissan Australia managing director Dan Thompson, his company has been brand-building with the likes of the GT-R, the 370Z twins and new Maxima. Now comes the building of volume. From December the new Micra will sell in three grades, with a choice of engines and transmissions. Thompson says this five-door hatchback could be worth 18,000 cars a year. A sedan version Micra will follow and in 2012 arrives a new Tiida (with perhaps the Pulsar badge reinstated) plus the bigger, more luxurious Patrol _ this wagon to be a true flagship model for sailing across country. The seventh generation Patrol boasts a 5.6 litre V8, seven-speed auto plus a 'world-first' Hydraulic Body Motion System, said to be pinched from rally cars. This eliminates stabiliser bars (allowing for greater wheel articulation in the rough stuff) and keeps the big wagon on an amazingly even keel when thrown around on the bitumen. There are a host of other driver aids, including Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist, allied to traction, stability controls and more. Then there's a four-wheel drive mode button (not unlike that on Land Rovers) that changes engine mapping and such for a variety of terrain. It is a big, big truck, just over 5m long and almost 2m tall and wide. Not everyone's in love with the style but it does have a real presence and a tonne of cabin space. A quick trot through the scrub in a left-hand drive version shows it to be a very capable, very comfortable machine; it has moved a far way from the utilitarian style of the current Patrol and into Range Rover league. A quick on-road run highlights excellent road manners for a high-riding 2.7 tonne machine. There is a deal of promise here, backed by 298kW and 550Nm of torque. And 550 Nm of torque is closer for the smaller Pathfinder wagon and Nissan's dual cab Navara with a 3 litre, 170kW V6 diesel option for both from early next year. Maximum torque (up 100Nm over the ST-X's four-cylinder diesel) arrives from a pretty low 1750rpm then works through a seven-speed auto for some pretty smart acceleration at all types of speed. It makes for a very flexible, most driveable ute. The price will jump to $60,990 _ the dearest of all dual cabs _ for the Spanish-built ST-X 550, here in January. Extras over the four-cylinder ST-X include roof bars, hard and lockable tonneau cover plus under-seat storage. Plus the most power in its class. The Pathfinder scores the same engine option, taking the price tag o $75,990 and towing capacity to 3500kg. This version, according to Nissan, fills a gap between the medium and large four-wheel drive wagons. The Pathfinder Ti 550 scores upgraded brakes, auto headlights and windscreen wipers among other new gear for 2011. Further down the line Nissan's X-Trail has had some minor upgrades (chief a telescopic steering column and rear knee improvement). Prices have dropped across most of the range, now starting from $31,990 and fuel consumption is down for both diesel and petrol engines. And from January the X-Trail will also be offered as a two-wheel drive version; petrol engine only and in ST and ST-L grades. Nissan believe one-in-three vehicles sold in this compact SUV class will be two-wheel drive by 2012. Below the X-Trail sits the two and all-wheel drive Dualis wagons, since July also available as the seven-seater Dualis +2. All these four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive wagons and utes underpin Nissan Australia's drive to make it to the top of the importers' list and claim some 10 per cent of the market in the next couple of years. NISSAN'S NEW MENU Early 2010: Upgraded Navara ST-X September 2010: Upgraded X-Trail December 2010: All-new Micra January 2011: Navara ST-X 550 + Pathfinder Ti 550 + two-wheel drive X-Trail 2012: All-new Patrol