Articles by CarsGuide team

The Formula One World Champion started his Chinese Grand Prix weekend in unusual fashion, acting in a martial arts short film alongside Hollywood actress, model and martial arts expert, Celina Jade. Filming at a studio just outside Shanghai, Vettel learned a series of Kung Fu moves from Celina, who can be seen in the upcoming Universal Pictures film `Man with the Iron Fists', before taking to the nearby Tianma circuit where they swapped roles and he taught her performance driving skills aboard an Infiniti G Coupe. The short film `Kung Fu Vettel: Drive of the Dragon'  guaranteed to show the double world champion as he's never been seen before  is set for release in early May. Vettel said it was the first time he'd acted in a martial arts movie and it was great fun. "It was something totally new for me which was good as I always like new challenges and experiences. I learned that just like with driving, you need balance, control and technique to be good at Kung Fu, but I think I'll still stick to my usual kind of fighting on track," he said.

The extra investment in AutoAlliance (Thailand) (AAT) will upgrade production equipment and increase utility production capacity by 20,000 units per year. AAT produces the All-New Mazda BT-50 and All-New Ford Ranger pickup trucks for the Thai domestic market and export markets around the world including Australia. The new investment will include facility upgrades such as additional robotic equipment and tooling to help increase line speed and output. The new capacity will come into effect starting next month. Meanwhile, Ford Australia has expanded its myFord Capped Price Servicing program. The program now includes the FG Falcon MkII EcoBoost, Ford Kuga TE and Ranger PX 4x2 and 4x4, as well as the range of Ford vehicles. The program means Ford owners can go to the Ford website and know the maximum amount they will pay for a logbook service up to six years or 105,000km, no matter which participating Ford dealer they use.  

Due for launch in the second half of the year, prices will range from $26,990 for the DX 4x2 Single Cab, powered by a 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with manual transmission, to $51,990 for the top-of-the-range 2.8-litre diesel LTZ Colorado 4x4 Crew Cab with an automatic. The new high-riding Colorado will be sold in three body styles  Single Cab, Space Cab and the family-friendly Crew Cab. There will be four spec levels: DX, LX, LT and LTZ. All Colorados powered by the 132kW 2.8-litre diesel boast a class-leading tow capacity of 3.5 tonnes. Those with the 110kW 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine will have a 3.0 tonne tow capacity. Regardless of   the Colorado workhorse boasts a one-tonne payload across the range.  It will be available in 4x2 or 4x4 guise across all Single and Crew Cab models, while Space Cab will be 4x4 only. Holden offers a six-speed automatic transmission as a $2000 option on all models except the entry level DX cab chassis, which is available with a five-speed manual transmission only.  Holden exec John Elsworth was pleased to announce the Colorado model line-up and pricing well ahead of launch. "With this announcement, customers can now pre-order a Colorado at their Holden dealer before the end of the financial year, and secure the first deliveries," Elsworth said. "Like our dealers, we're really keen to show customers what a great product we have with this new generation Colorado. "We've been able to put together a really competitive package with impressive diesel performance, great driving dynamics and a one-tonne payload on every model. "Colorado has been developed for the global market with significant Holden input. The Holden Colorado will have a suspension tune that's unique to Australia and many of the accessories have been developed locally to specifically suit our conditions. "With four Colorado models and three different body styles in either 4x2 or 4x4, we have a Colorado to suit every customer. "And the icing on the cake is Colorado's 3.5-tonne towing capacity on all models equipped with the new 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine."  The 2012 Holden Colorado will be packed with lifestyle and comfort features including Bluetooth connectivity, power windows, two auxiliary power outlets, auxiliary input, USB port and an iPod compatible audio system. Colorado will also have a comprehensive array of safety features with Electronic Stability Control, ABS, driver and front passenger airbags and side curtain airbags standard across the range.  Holden will release a full list of specifications and features for the new Colorado range closer to its mid-year launch. In the meantime, you can preview and register their interest at: holden.com.au  

The Landy wagon now gets a more powerful and more efficient V8 petrol engine. LandCruiser's new 4.6-litre V8 features variable valve timing on both the inlet and exhaust ports, lifting power and torque while improving fuel economy and lowering emissions.The new V8 leads a series of improvements to the LandCruiser 200, which remains true to its off-road heritage with uncompromising, go-anywhere capability. LandCruiser, the top-selling vehicle in its class for decades, gains new and updated equipment for 2012 that adds to its looks, performance and customer appeal.Off-road technology has advanced across the range with a new multi-terrain anti-skid braking system that detects and automatically adapts to off-road conditions, supplementing the standard vehicle stability control and active traction control.The two top grades, LandCruiser VX and Sahara, gain Multi-Terrain Select that regulates wheel-spin in tough off-road conditions with five driver-selectable modes: rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, mud and sand.Top-of-the-range Sahara adds to LandCruiser's reputation as "king off the road" with Multi-Terrain Monitor, utilising four wide-angle cameras for checking "blind" spots and revealing terrain hazards and apexes that are normally hidden from the driver's view.Other LandCruiser Sahara features include air-conditioned front seats, upgraded navigation system, power-operated tailgate, and three-position memory for the power driver's seat, steering wheel and exterior mirrors. All grades feature fresh exterior styling, including a new front mask with revised bumpers and grilles, and interior upgrades incorporating the latest audio systems.LandCruiser's new V8 petrol engine is fitted with an acoustic control induction system that enhances performance at high engine speeds and improves torque lower in the rev range. Engine capacity is reduced by 56cm3 to 4608cm3, yet power increases by 12.9 per cent to 228kW at 5500rpm and torque by 7.1 per cent to 439Nm at 3500rpm.Fuel economy has improved by 6.2 per cent to 13.6 litres/100km . Designated 1UR-FE, the new engine has a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the five-speed in the previous petrol engine. This is the same AB60F six-speed unit fitted to 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel LandCruiser 200 variants. The final gear ratio is taller in the petrol models (4.300:1 v 3.909).LandCruiser 200 GXL, VX and Sahara customers can choose between the new petrol engine and Toyota's 195kW/650Nm 4.5-litre V8 twin-turbo common-rail diesel engine. The GX grade is offered with the diesel engine. All LandCruiser 200 variants now have 138-litre fuel-tank capacity with 93-litre main and 45-litre sub tanks. 

General Motors recently picked up a 7 per cent stake in Peugeot-Citroen (PSA), and now it looks like Isuzu is in the Detroit auto giant’s sights too.  The Nikkei Business Daily has reported that GM is about to embark on negotiations to acquire a 10 per cent stake in the Japan-based Isuzu brand, which focuses on the commercial end of the motoring spectrum, starting with utes and heading up to trucks.  The GM-Isuzu deal would reportedly focus mainly on developing and distributing commercial vehicles largely aimed at Asian and South American markets.  The proposed partnership is not the first for the two brands, who have had a varying commercial link over the past four decades. GM signed a capital agreement with Isuzu in 1971 and at one time owned nearly half of the Japanese company. More than 20 years ago, the two badges jointly established Isuzu-General Motors Australia to import, assemble and market the Japanese products here. The former Holden Rodeo introduced in 1980 was built by Isuzu for three generations. However, Holden lost the right to the name during the GM-Isuzu split a few years ago and reintroduced the light commercial ute here in 2008 as the Holden Colorado.  In parallel, Isuzu has been selling it here as the D-Max.  The next generation of Holden Colorado on the way is a rebadged Chevrolet built in Thailand. GM has also rebadged Isuzu Faster pick-ups and sold them here and in the US as Chevrolet LUVs through the late 1980s to 2003.  The newspaper report said the goal was for the two companies - headed by GM CEO Dan Akerson and Isuzu president Susumu Hosoi - to finalise and sign a deal within months.  

Electric vehicle infrastructure leader Better Place has installed an EV charge point at Canberra's Novotel hotel. Guests can charge their car for free and visitors can also access free charging via paid valet parking at the hotel.The Novotel's Neil Paterson said installing charge spots for electric cars was a key part of the Novotel's commitment to customer service and sustainability."We're proud to be one of the first hotels in Canberra to offer this leading-edge service for guests and visitors. "Electric cars are clearly a part of the driving future, so it was important to us that we put the infrastructure in place to make the Novotel a destination address for electric car drivers," he said.The newly installed charge spots are located in the underground car park and can support up to four electric cars at once. The installation is part of the public network of charge spots Better Place is deploying in the ACT region.The charge spots deliver between 20 and 25km of range per hour of charging. They are compatible with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Renault Fluence ZE and the Holden Volt which will be released in Australia later this year.Better Place now has a total of 14 charge spots installed in and around Canberra with 94 charge spots installed nationally. 

The Atalanta Sports Tourer revives a design that was first shown to the public before the outbreak of the Second World War on March 5, 1937. And the clock rolled back those 75 years since the car's debut, with it being launched as new at the Royal Automobile Club in the UK. The Sports Tourer is the result of a joint venture between Staffordshire-based motoring enthusiast, Martyn Corfield and Cheshire based restorer Trevor Farrington. Following his acquisition of the 1938 Atalanta works Le Mans car, Corfield thoroughly research the history of the company. He purchased several more cars which led to his passion to revive the marque. Back in the 30s the idea was `to fulfil the exacting requirements of professional and amateur drivers on both road and track'. Only 21 cars were produced before the outbreak of war in 1939 forced the demise of the company. Atalanta cars were available in a variety of configurations, including: an open two-seat sports car, two-seat sports tourer, two-door fixed-head coupe, luxury two-door saloon and two-door drop head coupe In reviving the Atalanta, modern technology has been used to enhance performance and safety while the 1930s English sports car style has been retained -- complete with its tall, narrow tyres for good driver `feel' and ride comfort. All components are new, with more than 85 per cent being unique to Atalanta's design (castings, stub axles, springs, steering system and so on), all sensitively packaged within traditional hand-crafted aluminium over ash coach built structure. Corfield said the aim at Atalanta Motors is to reproduce the positive and enjoyable characteristics of vintage motoring in a reliable and usable manner that is relevant to today's driving environment. Today only seven of the original Atalanta's still exist, of which four are in running order. Four owners of the 1930s models were present at the launch of the revived car. Limited commissions for the 2012 Atalanta `Revival' are being taken and each will be built to an individual specification as a unique vehicle.  

This could be the answer. A graphic designer in the US has developed a large papercraft replica he says any hobbyist could put together. Taras Lesko says the print-cut-glue pattern builds into a 75cm paper version of the top-shelf - and top-priced - supercar. Just the thing if Barbie is getting tired of that pink plastic convertible, perhaps. Don't be daunted by the 44-page print-out of 159 pieces. Lesko's website says the assembly instructions are clear. "I specifically designed this papercraft with detailed templates and instructions for any hobbyist to easily enjoy," he states. Lesko is offering the plans free on his VisualSpicer.com website - although he's appreciative if people want to donate in return. We're looking forward to giving it a try - although we'll probably need to set aside several days, a few spare printouts and some back-up toner cartridges for the officer printer. In the meantime, we'll content ourselves with enjoying the time-lapse video.  

...in the US.The Pikes Peak event is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the 4300 metre summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado, with entrants covering an elevation difference of almost 1500 metres.The i-MiEV Prototype is a prototype based on MMC's all-electric i-MiEV model, the first 100 per cent electric vehicle (EV) to go into mass production which is already on the road in Australia, Japan, Europe and North America, with plans to expand to other markets.The i-MiEV Prototype is to be driven by Hiroshi Masuoka, in many parts of the world known as a legendary race driver.During the course of decades of racing success, Masuoka took on the brutal Dakar Rally 21 times, winning it consecutively in 2002 and 2003, driving Mitsubishi Pajero and PajeroEvolution models respectively.The i-MiEV Prototype will use the same EV components as the current production i-MiEV.Mitsubishi wil use the data it gathers to enhance the durability and reliability of pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs, which it will be bringing to market in the near future. 

It is the first car to be designed by the company as a fully electric vehicle from the ground up. But perhaps even more importantly, Renault is keen to make the car affordable for everyone -- even in Australia, which fails to match overseas governments in offering incentives for electric vehicles. Renault has been spotted testing a heavily disguised version of the car on Australian roads. Zoe is packed with the latest technology and boasts several world premieres geared to enhancing user-friendliness, range and connectivity. Unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Zoe goes on sale in Europe this autumn. Zoe is first mass-market electric vehicle to be homologated with an NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) range of 210 km. It is also the first vehicle equipped with Range OptimiZEr that improves the real-world range, depending on driving conditions. For example, in suburban use, the owner will achieve between 100 km and 150 km. It is capable of being charged at any level of power in between 30 minutes and nine hours thanks to the Chameleon charger. Zoe features Renault R-Link, a multimedia system featuring a seven-inch touch screen tablet, navigation and connected services. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn said the car shown at Geneva represents the model's final design and will spearhead the Renault zero emissions range. In addition to its compact size, attractive styling and affordable price tag, he said it showcases Renault's technological excellence when it comes to electric vehicles. "Zoe also heralds the beginning of a new era of electric mobility for all and confirms our commitment to electric vehicles," he said. "It marks an important step for Renault which has a 110-year history of making major innovations a concrete reality for ordinary motorists."