Articles by CarsGuide team

Now you have the answer don’t forget to submit it here. If you haven’t already noticed the smarter than ever Carsguide.com.au has a list of luxurious features which include: in-built navigation for smarter searching; a boot-load of tips, news and reviews for access to smarter advice; and a powerful new engine to deliver more listings and more choice than ever before.  Competition closes 23:59 AEST on 12.05.12. Competition is drawn 16.05.12 at MCN, Level 6, 60 Union Street, NSW 2009. Winners will be notified by email and published in The Australian on 23.05.12. NSW Permit No: LTPS/12/02630; ACT Permit No. LTP:TP 12/01196; SA Permit No. LTP:T12/550; VIC Permit No. LTP: 12/693. Full terms and conditions can be found here.

Isuzu is supplying a Isuzu D-MAX LS 4x4 Dual Cab to help Bruce and Denise Morcombe to continue their outstanding work. Their foundation aims to raise awareness of risks to children, and the work includes meeting with communities throughout Queensland and Australia - which was becoming more difficult with their old vehicle.  “We are rapt that Isuzu Ute have come to help us,” Bruce Morcombe said in a statement. “The old vehicle has been a real trooper but it is way past its use-by date and really struggles with the demands of covering the huge mileage that we do. “Plus towing a trailer that is now jam packed with a heap of merchandise and educational resources has really taken its toll.” “This is a big investment by Isuzu Ute and a real endorsement in the work that we do … we are very thankful that they have seen this and are prepared to back us,” added Denise Morcombe.  The Daniel Morcombe Foundation implements ‘Harm Prevention’ initiatives to families across Australia and is committed to teaching Personal Safety to the young and vulnerable in our community by providing important skills and resources - free of charge.“ Our Maroochydore Isuzu Ute Dealer Principal Craig McPherson brought it to our attention that Bruce and Denise were in need of a new Ute, as their old one was falling apart,” said Isuzu UTE Senior Public Relations Manager Dave Harding.  “Bruce, Denise - and the Foundation - work tirelessly and do an incredible job for our community so to be able to help make their life a bit easier is the least we could do,” he added.

The can is being upgraded with a more advanced Electronic Stability Control ESC system. Mercedes will include the upgraded system to all Sprinters sold in Australia. The more intelligent ESC system takes into account the weight of the load being carried when it modulates braking response to keep the van pointing the right way. Another potentially life saving feature of the electronic aid is its ability to sense if an attached trailer is starting to sway and control the brakes and/or throttle to bring it into line. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is available with a 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder diesel in two different versions. One has 95kW and 305Nm and the other has 120kW and 360 Nm. Both are available with an optional five-speed manual or the standard Eco Gear six-speed manual with feature a high sixth gear for fuel economy and also comes with a feature that kills the engine when you pull up and restarts it when you depress the clutch. It's a handy system that will save a lot of fuel on city runs. Mercedes-Benz recently recalled Sprinter, Vito and Viano vans produced between August 2010 and May 2011 The 1071 load haulers are being called in to fix potential fuel leaks  due to a possibly faulty fuel filter. A recall notice explains leaking diesel could result in a fire hazard or, if it was to leak onto the road, a skid hazard to other road users. Mercedes will contact all affected owners and will fix the fault for no charge. Customers unsure whether their vehicle is affected should contact a Mercedes dealership.

To mark her diamond jubilee, Windsor Castle will host its first ever Concours d’Elegance, with a wish list of 60 of the world’s rarest cars on the invitation. One car will be chosen from every year of her 60-year reign since 1952, and start with a rare Bentley Type R. The most recent options will be a 2011 Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari FF or a Porsche 991. The cars will be coming from around the world, but they haven’t all been located yet. So the global call has gone out … check the list below, and if one of these is sitting in your carport, it will be your ticket to drive into Windsor Castle and display it for the Queen. She’s sure to be amused. • 1952 Bentley R Type // Riley RME • 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 // Austin Healey 100 // Porsche 550 • 1954 Jaguar XK140 // Alfa Romeo Giulietta // Jensen 541 • 1955 Bentley S1 // Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud // Jaguar Mk1 • 1956 Austin Healey 100-6 // BMW 507 // Jaguar Mk VIII • 1957 Jaguar XK150 //Lotus 7 • 1958 Lancia Flaminia // Bristol 406 // Aston Martin DB4 • 1959 Mini // Jaguar Mk2 // Maserati 5000GT • 1960 Alvis TD21 // Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato // Saab 96 • 1961 Jaguar E-Type // Lancia Flavia // Triumph TR4 • 1962 MGB // Bentley S3 // Alfa Romeo Giulia • 1963 Aston Martin DB5 // Lamborghini 350GT // Gorfon Keeble • 1964 Porsche 911 // Ferrari 275GTB // Sunbeam Tiger • 1965 Ford Mustang // Ford GT40 // Aston Martin DB6 // Bristol 409 • 1966 Jensen Interceptor // Lamborghini Miura // Alfa Romeo Spider • 1967 Toyota 2000GT // Aston Martin DBS // TVR Vixen • 1968 Ferrari Daytona // Morgan Plus 8 // Triumph TR5 • 1969 Bristol 411 // Triumph TR6 // Ford Capri • 1970 Range Rover // Triumph Stag // Citroen SM // Lamborghini Urraco • 1971 Maserati Bora // Alfa Romeo Alfasud // Bentley Corniche • 1972 Bentley Corniche // Lancia Stratos // Jenson-Healey • 1973 Ferrari 308 GT4 // Maserati Khamsin • 1974 Lamborghini Countach // Lotus Eclat • 1975 Triumph TR7 // Jaguar XJ-S // Rolls-Royce Camargue • 1976 Aston Martin Lagonda // Lotus Esprit // Porsche 924 • 1977 Porsche 928 // Alfa Romeo Giulietta // BMW E23 • 1978 BMW M1 // Mazda RX-7 • 1979 Lancia Delta // Mercedes-Benz S-Class W126 • 1980 Audi quattro // Ferrari Mondial // Austin Metro • 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 // Lamborghini Jalpa // Maserati Biturbo • 1982 Lotus Excel // Porsche 944 • 1983 BMW M635CSi // Land Rover Defender // Peugeot 205 • 1984 Ferrari 288GTO // Ferrari Testarossa // Bentley 8 • 1985 Bentley Turbo R // BMW M5 // Ferrari 328 • 1986 Porsche 959 // BMW M3 // Aston V8 Zagato • 1987 Ferrari F40 // Ferrari 348 // Land Rover Discovery • 1988 Porsche 964 • 1989 Aston Martin Virage // BMW Z1 • 1990 Honda NSX • 1991 TVR Griffith // Bentley Continental R • 1992 McLaren F1 // Jaguar XJ220 // Ferrari 456 • 1993 Aston Martin DB7 // Porsche 993 • 1994 Maserati Quattroporte // Jaguar XJ // Ferrari F355 • 1995 Ferrari 355GTS • 1996 Lotus Elise // TVR Cerbera // Porsche Boxster • 1997 Jaguar XK // Bentley Turbo RT • 1998 Bentley Arnage // Porsche 996 • 1999 Pagani Zonda // Ferrari 360 • 2000 Lotus Exige // Morgan Aero 8 // BMW Z8 • 2001 Aston Martin Vanquish • 2002 Ferrari Enzo // Koenigsegg CC8S // Lamborghini Murciélago • 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo // Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren • 2004 Porsche Carrera GT // Aston Martin DB9 // Ferrari 612 Scaglietti • 2005 Bugatti Veyron // Aston Martin Vantage // Gumbert Apollo • 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano // Lotus Europa S // Audi R8 • 2007 Nissan GT-R // Maserati GranTurismo • 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe // Jaguar XF // Lotus Evora • 2009 Ferrari 458 Italia // Aston Martin Rapide // Jaguar XJ • 2010 Aston Martin One-77 // Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG • 2011 Lamborghini Aventador // Ferrari FF // Porsche 991

Watch as a tow truck driver converts this ute into a compact car.  

Codenamed DM, the new Santa Fe will have its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in early April.It has been decided to retain the name Santa Fe because of the solid following for the model here and overseas.Based on Hyundai's fluidic design philosophy the new Santa Fe adopts its own design concept called "Storm Edge," which captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.The third-generation Santa Fe features sophisticated and refined lines, with a more aggressive and classic look than its predecessor.The design adopts the hexagonal grille a key design cue of the Hyundai family look a two-tone voluminous bottom car body and wider front and rear bumpers, creating a futuristic and urban-style SUV image.Dynamic side character lines give a more aerodynamic feeling, while emotional details expressed on the exterior design deliver a premium image, suggesting a new design direction for Hyundai's next-generation SUVs. The all-new Santa Fe is due to arrive in Australia before the end of the year. 

The mind-blowing action of Nitro Circus comes off the small screen and on to the stage in June. The live show starts its Australian tour in Brisbane on May 11 and follows the coast until it gets to Perth on June 9. The show includes displays on what-not-to-do with BMXs, motor bikes and 18m death-defying ramps. Nitro Circus has made a name for themselves as a showcase of extreme sports. And the live action sports group wants to become the Cirque du Soleil for adrenalin junkies. At the centre of Nitro's shows is former US motocross stunt hot shot Travis Pastrana, who is a celebrity on the extreme sports circuit. But his fame hasn't come without cost -- the two-time motocross champion and NASCAR racer has broken most of the bones in his body pulling death-defying stunts. Nitro Circus Live performed in MGM Grand's Garden Arena in Las Vegas last June, and conducted an independent survey of 500 attendees from a 12,000-strong audience, from which 91 per cent said "it was the best show of any kind they'd ever seen''. "All the hotel groups saw how fans reacted and now understand our vision to become the Cirque du Soleil for young people,'' a spokesman said.  

The "global compact car" will first be sold in Thailand, followed by ASEAN countries, Japan, Europe, then expand to other markets successively. The Mirage was developed under a concept that fulfils the needs of both fast-growing emerging markets as an entry-level car and the eco-conscious advanced markets with its environmental performance. The Mirage will be made at a brand-new third factory at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's (MMTh) Laem Chabang Plant; the largest MMC plant outside of Japan. The Mirage is focused on premium fuel efficiency and low CO2 emission. The new tiddler delivers fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions that are among the best in its class thanks to the all-new MIVEC1 engine and reduced aerodynamic resistance and rolling resistance. It provides nimble handling inherent to a compact car while utilising high-efficiency packaging to maintain interior space for five adults. Optimisation of the body structure and more extensive use of high-tensile strength panel make the vehicle seven per cent lighter than is normal for its class, contributing to better fuel economy.  The Mirage uses Mitsubishi's impact-resistant RISE 3 body, which absorbs and distributes impact force to deliver high levels of occupant safety. A high level of quality achieved through MMDS (Mitsubishi Motors Development System), a comprehensive quality management system that sets and assesses/evaluates the achievement of specific performance benchmarks within each stage of operations from vehicle planning, sales and after-sales services. In addition, before production, Mitsubishi stationed experienced inspectors from its Japanese factories in Thailand to inspect manufactured units at the new third factory in order to make sure that the same quality standards from its Japanese factories are reached. The Thai-market Mirage will be equipped with a 1.2L MIVEC engine and achieve around  5.0 litres/100KM  with a EURO 4 rating

The British guitarist, a renowned car collector, teamed with designers at the Italian manufacturer's Special Projects division to customise the Ferrari 458 Italia. It was built in homage to one of Clapton's favourite vehicles, the 1970s Ferrari 512BB, which he crashed. The Mail Online reports the car carries a distinctive registration plate of SP 12 EPC. Mega-rich US businessman James Glickenhaus, who has used the service before, has told the website he has heard from "reliable sources'' the Ferrari set back Clapton $4.59 million, making it six times more expensive than Ferrari's most expensive production car - the Enzo.  The sleek red model was put on display at a Ferrari dealership in London. It was removed, however, after it attracted too much attention. Tim Burton, who edits supercar video website Shmee150.co.uk, was fortunate to have grabbed a glimpse of the car. "It is fantastic to be fortunate enough to see a car that is this special, a unique one-of-one which carries incredible value,'' he told the Mail.  "You always expect cars like this to head directly to private collections and garages never to be seen again.  "Even though it was only on display very briefly, a huge stir was caused in the car community.''

The Roadster makes number six. It's the first model designed for two people, but not the first soft top version of the car. The Mini Roadster will be available with a choice of two petrol engines from launch. The model line-up includes the 135kW Cooper S Roadster and an even more powerful John Cooper Works Roadster with 155kW on tap. The aerodynamic balance of the Mini Roadster is optimised by an active rear spoiler, which extends automatically once the car reaches a speed of 80 km/h.A torsionally rigid body complete with special strengthening elements and low centre of gravity enhance both the handling agility and safety of the roadster. It's fitted with front and head-thorax airbags, an extremely rigid windscreen frame and polished stainless steel roll-over bars in the name of occupant protection. But the question remains. After the convertibles, the barn doors, the odd -side-door - and the shrunken  SUV version - what more can Mini add to the range? A plane? A boat?Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below. No matter how weird or unlikely, you just never know...