Articles by CarsGuide team

Unlike conventional combustion engines which lose power on the ascent, the fully electric drivetrain of the new Toyota EV P002 racecar maintains full power even in the thin air of the hill climb's 19.9 kilometre course.The race begins at an altitude of 2,862 metres and finishes at the 4,300-metre Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, US. The TMG EV P002's twin axial flux motors deliver a combined output of 350kW, which is expected to propel the vehicle to a top speed of 240km/h.The advanced electric motors also deliver 900Nm of torque through a single gear transmission. Toyota engineers have spent the past six months developing the Radical chassis-based EV P002, which is a development of the street-legal TMG EV P001 that broke the electric car lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2011.The EV P002 electric powertrain produces more power and is more durable than its predecessor following a comprehensive testing program. Multiple Japanese rally champion Fumio Nutahara will drive the EV P002 in the event, also known as the `Race to the Clouds', on July 8. This year's race will have 16 classes and a field of 200 competitors. 

Arriving in July, the Citroen C4 AirCross is the same under the skin as Mitsubishi's ASX and the new Peugeot 4008 and it rolls of the same Japanese production line.Power comes from the same 2.0-litre, 110 kW petrol four cylinder engine and AirCross will be available with a choice of two or four wheel drive as well as manual or a CVT self-shifting gearbox.No diesel option is currently available. The 4WD variant offers a choice of two wheel drive for maximum economy; four wheel drive difficult conditions and `4WD Lock' for the toughest conditions.The handsome styling of AirCross draws upon Citroen's curent DNA. A comprehensive equipment list and "value for money" pricing will be notified soon.

...about how tough they think the Thunder Ute is.

This is the first time Ford has taken the award, but it’s not the first glory for the engine itself, which propelled a European-spec Ford Focus to 16 world speed records last week at the XERAM test circuit in France. The 1.0-litre also nabbed the “Best New Engine” and “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre.” Awards, where were presented by Engine Technology International magazine. The Focus is first car to be equipped with three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which will roll out to Ford’s C-MAX and B-MAX in Europe later this year. However we won’t see the engine in Australia until it arrives in the Fiesta-based ultra-compact EcoSport SUV, due here around mid-2013. The Ecoboost 1.0-litre is small enough to fit on an A4 sheet of paper. However it compensates for its diminutive size and capacity with a combination of turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust. Ford says this allows it to deliver the power of a larger unit while retaining the economy of a small one – officially posted at 4.8 l/100km, with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.  “International Engine of the Year” is judged by a panel of 76 automotive journalists from 35 countries around the world, who mark on drivability, performance, economy, refinement and application of technology. Ford’s statement says the 1.0-litre EcoBoost received 28 per cent more points than the next rival and the highest total in the competition’s history.  “For a three-cylinder to power a vehicle like the Ford Focus with such ease proves that the future is very, very bright for the internal combustion engine,” said Slavnich of Engine Technology International. “Power, response and very good real-world fuel consumption figures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this engine and what it offers drivers today.”    

Getting away from it all does not necessarily mean leaving everything behind, like life's little luxuries. Priced from $75,000 driveaway Trakka's Volkswagen Transporter based Trakkadu campervan packs a lot into its compact confines. It's available with the 103kW and or 132kW diesel engine, together with a 6-speed manuial or 7-speed DSG style automatic in either two or all-wheel drive configuration. Trakka's Martin Poate said it's not just the grey nomads that are turning to life on the road, Generation X and Y motorhoming travel is on the rise. Trakka's Trakkadu range of campervans are ideal for younger travellers and can serve as reliable day-to-day vehicle available in two wheel drive or an all-terrain model for an off-road adventure with some mates. "Although compact in size, the Trakkadu's low profile elevating roof raises to reveal an airy living area with full standing height. Dine, sit back and read a book or take a snooze; it's all possible in your home on the road," Mr Poate said. "Comparable to a private penthouse, a feature of most Trakka motorhomes and campervans is that they can be driven with a standard driver's license and perform very much like a contemporary car, making the motorhoming lifestyle accessible to everyday drivers." With RV registrations increasing by 250 per cent over the past 15 years, Trakka's range of motorhomes and campervans cater for all travellers and individual comforts.  

For a start, if those are British workmen supposedly destroying the Jaguar clay model, where's all the British workers union approved safety kit – hi-vis vests, goggles and earmuffs – plus the mandatory shop steward standing by with a clipboard. And is it just Carsguide who thinks that this wrecking crew looks far too much like they’ve just stepped from the scenes of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels?  We’re suspicious … how about you?

The Korando beat strong competition from the likes of Volvo, Hyundai and Kia to win first place in the ScanCovery Trial -- an extreme 7000km race from the North Pole to the Netherlands.  The ScanCovery Trial kicked off last year with the second (annual) event taking place recently. It is a new type of motorsport where competitors race on ordinary roads and must observe the local driving regulations. Participating vehicles require a high level of durability to withstand the rigorous conditions, including snow and ice in temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero. Although more than 60 teams commenced the race, many teams did not make it to the end due to extremely unfavourable conditions and fatigue. The Ssangyong racing team completed the race without a single problem or incident, with the racers praising Korando for its comfort and agility. The race stresses the importance of observing local driving regulations. Each traffic violation accumulates a specific penalty point. The Ssangyong Team scored 136 points, which was much lower than its competitors. The Korando is a compact SUV, available here from $27,990.  

No one knows what to make of the Renault Twizy, but everyone is fascinated by it. The Twizy is geared towards city drivers or commuters travelling short distances to work in small towns.It has a range of between 45 to 50 miles and a top speed of 50mph. But it has a deceptively quick burst of speed that makes it ideal for nipping in and out of traffic. It takes only three and a half hours to fully charge using a standard plug.

An ambassador for Suzuki motorcycles, he has just taken possession of a brand-new 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000. "I've had a Suzuki GSX-R1000 for three years now, and seeing the development and changes in the bike over these three years has been tremendous," Lowndes says. "It is lighter, nicer and more powerful ... and it is definitely a mark above the rest." The undisputed superbike of our era, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the current Australian Endurance champion and has won multiple championships and filled 1000cc production based road racing grids worldwide. The 2012 GSX-R1000 has already owned the racetrack, with Team Suzuki's Josh Waters victorious in the opening round of the 2012 Australian Superbike Championship at Phillip Island. An unsurpassed package, the 2012 GSX-R1000 is powered by a 999cc, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine delivering 136kW of power and featuring Suzuki's Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel-injection system and a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. In the latest model, Suzuki engineers have made significant improvements across the machine, including 11 per cent lighter and stronger pistons, revised crankcases with newly designed ventilation holes, a modified exhaust camshaft profile and increased engine compression ratio. The 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is priced from $17,990.