Articles by CarsGuide team

The FT-Bh concept is as spacious as an average five-door compact car, yet is projected to use half the fuel and produce half the emissions.FT-Bh, which stands for Future Toyota B-segment (Yaris size) hybrid, will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show at March 6.Engineers focused on five key pillars to achieve maximum fuel economy and minimum emissions: weight reduction, optimum aerodynamics, powertrain efficiency, thermal energy management and electricity saving.This "total vehicle" approach has resulted in a car that weighs less than 800kg - at least one-third less than most compact cars - with a downsized full hybrid powertrain and a 30 per cent gain in aerodynamic efficiency.These feats have been achieved by adopting an economically viable production framework using common materials and procedures - not exotic materials or expensive techniques.Other cars on the Toyota stand include the new 86 sports car, which is due on sale in Australia around the middle of the year.The company will also display the NS4, a next-generation plug-in hybrid, and the FCV-R, which represents the next step towards mass production of hydrogen-powered cars. 

The Alfa Romeo 4C in concept for has been doing the motor show rounds since the start of the year and will  go into series production some time this year with expected on sale dates next year. The 4C is designed to deliver on Alfa's core values - exhilarating performance and handling delivered by rear wheel drive. Designers also paid close attention to safety and driving pleasure. It's a lightweight vehicle powered by  Alfa's impressive 1750 TBi engine with around 180kW that pushes the stylish two door from 0-100 kmh in under five seconds and on to a 250 kmh top speed at the local air strip. Fuel economy and emissions are comparable to some economy cars. The 4C concept presents the classic formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupe with its engine at the centre, a length of approximately four metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. These dimensions serve to emphasise the compact size of the car and to accentuate its agility. The graceful and clean external lines stand out in a crowded street and the interior is similarly ground breaking in styling terms. The 4C concept draws on technology and materials from the 8C Competizione - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive and components lifted from other Alfa models currently on sale like the 1750 turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector. Its weight is reduced through the liberal use of carbon fibre in body structure and panel components  to give an advantageous power to weight ratio. Aluminium is similarly used throughout the vehicle. The final result is a sports car tipping the scales at "less than" 850kg with optimised centre of gravity. The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has an extremely sophisticated suspension layout (high quadrilateral at the front, MacPherson at the rear) to ensure maximum agility and road handling. The 4C is tipped to hit the streets globally in 2012, some time later in Australia.

The glamorous V12 Aston Martin Zagato is scheduled for production later this year and will be the pinnacle of the Vantage range.

The wagon will join Holden's Cruze line-up within a year, and will be imported as the third Cruze variant.It aims to combine the practicality of a wagon with high-tech features and sporty style -- and to capitalise on the success of the Cruze sedan and hatch, which have quickly become Holden heroes The Chevrolet version makes its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this March.The latest Cruze bodystyle complements sedan and hatch which have sold in excess of one million vehicles globally since the carline was launched in 2009.The new wagon will feature generous storage space and a high level of standard features and safety.Cruze wagon, at 4,675mm, is slightly longer than the hatch (4,510mm) and sedan (4,597mm) models. Load space ranges from 500 litres up to the window line in the rear to nearly 1,500 litres up to the roof top with the rear seats folded down.The exterior design features a tapering single arch roofline and comes with roof racks as standard, providing convenience while maintaining a poised and sporty look. More details will be released closer to the launch date.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has launched a national campaign to continue to raise ANCAP's profile and highlight the importance of five star vehicles. The Stars on Cars campaign aims to connect with consumers looking to purchase a new vehicle within the next 12 months through engaging safety messages; raising awareness of the ANCAP star rating system; and helping consumers make the connection between ANCAP star ratings and their safety of their family. The campaign introduces a 'crash test family' with imagery featuring crash test dummies undertaking normal family activities further reminding consumers of the real-word implications of vehicle crashes and reinforcing the importance of safer vehicle choices. The online campaign will run for approximately four months across key motoring websites encouraging those in the market for a new car to check the safety rating of their prospective choices on www.ancap.com.au. Campaign interaction through ANCAP's Facebook and Twitter accounts will also generate conversation amongst peer groups with ANCAP encouraging all car buyers to use star ratings in their decision-making process. ANCAP is supported by all Australian and New Zealand motoring clubs, the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, all Australian state governments, the Victorian Transport Accident Commission, NRMA Insurance and the FIA Foundation. All states and territories have contributed to the funding of this campaign. For a full list of ANCAP's vehicle safety ratings, other vehicle safety information and the specifications of the rated vehicles go to www.ancap.com.au.

The Kuga make not make a scratch on the SUV segment.Ford could be throwing its belated Euro soft roader into the lions' den. Yes, you can add another vehicle into the overcrowded SUV segment; one that hit double figures in 2010, and now represents 12 percent of vehicle sales.But while the segment soars, Ford Australia is playing catch-up. While the company has enjoyed a diesel-led resurgence of its large Territory, its compact entry  for the past 11 years  has been the Escape.As the name suggests, many of us cannot get away fast enough from this US-market-driven, old-school softie. The Escape dates back to 2001, and when it finally surfaced after lengthy delays, the Subaru Forester, Toyota Rav4, and Honda CR-V already had a stranglehold.History has repeated with the Kuga; the German-built Escape replacement debuted globally in 2008. Four long years later, we finally get 200 cars a month with a turbo five-cylinder petrol, auto transmission and two trim choices.So long has been the wait that the updated Kuga -based on the current Focus platform rather than the superseded one, with more tech, and most likely a 2.0-litre diesel donk - will be here next year.There's no base model per se; the Kuga comes only in mid-spec Trend and top-shelf Titanium, keeping with Ford's notions of the Kuga representing a high-end alternative and ensuring the resale value of the late-gen imports remains stable. The Escape is kept alive for now as an entry level car.The Trend starts at $38,990, which includes 17-inch wheels, fog lights, roof rails, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, keyless start, cruise, a decent eight-speaker stereo with Bluetooth and voice activation, and five-star safety.Step up six grand, and the $44,990 Titanium model adds a panoramic glass roof, 18-inch wheels, leather trim, heated front seats, power adjustment on the drivers seat, auto headlights and wipers, and dual-zone air-con.Herein lies the biggest dilemma for the Kuga. In 2008, it would have been right up there. Now VW's Tiguan and Subaru's XV hold the cards in the world of tech warcraft. There's nothing new about the inline five-pot powerplant; the five-speed automatic tranny with a sports shifter is mildly dimwitted next to the likes of the Tiguan's DSG, and the Haldex on-demand system is nothing special.The rear of the car is held up by an independent control blade suspension; the rear bumper coming short of covering it up, as if to give traffic behind a peep up its skirt at this inclusion, and it works well with the excellent handling characteristics.However, it misses out on Ford's patented EPAS parallel-park-for-dummies system that automatically parks the car for you. The US Kuga, which has kept the Escape nameplate, has this feature, so we may get it. But not yet.More than a big bloated Focus, the Kuga's design manages to avoid the crossover car-on-stilts typecast with low skirting, a big glasshouse and wedge-like roof and shoulder line. Its quite a tall car, but big alloys fill the arches, while a nifty split tailgate with a flat-loading cargo floor and covering net make it easy to access.Rear legroom is tight, however, and the high sill line will impede the view of  kids. But that isn't this empty nester/young active couples target demographic. Tow capacity, which is strangely set at 750kg whether braked or unbraked, is poor. And a space saver underfloor is the only spare, which is simply not good enough on an SUV in this country.The Kuga has already been crashed into a few barriers at the ANCAP facility, and earned a five star rating for its intelligent protection system or cabin capsule, front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, and traction and stability control (DSC) with Anti Rollover Mitigation, which will brake the front wheels and cut the engine if the balance starts to skew in the roof's favour.High expectations come with a long-anticipated car, particularly one based on the superbly set-up Focus. The Focus XR5's rorty little turbo five is detuned to produce 147 kW at 6000rpm in the Kuga, but gets the same 320NM from 1600rpm - 4000rpm to get its 1653kg bulk away with good push. Its lovely power steering cops rough-road kickback, but remains pointy and progressive.The ride is supple, despite the New Zealand-specced cars we tested on the hilly roads north of Auckland being fitted with larger 19-inch rims and thinner rubber, where we get 17s and 18s (our cars will have a softer ride and absorb some of the test cars' front-end reaction to uneven surfaces; corner entry will be less crisp).It sits low which also aids handing -- though the ride height of 188mm is far below the 220mm legs of its SUV brethren.  The AWD system got a short workout on gravel, running 90:10 in favour of the front wheels but progressing to a 50:50 split without noticeable hesitation.However, it was felt through a fog of active driver aids - the stability control is deactivated through the setup menu; and a task to turn off. It's a good steer with a quality feel; as good as the top runners in the class. But it doesn't set a new benchmark.

The Kuga joins a highly acclaimed and successful vehicle portfolio that is recognised for its safety standards and performance. Critical to this safety performance is a high-strength bodyshell that contributes to the five-star ANCAP safety rating.Systems overviewA high quantity and standard of active and passive safety features have been incorporated into the Ford Kuga and, like all Ford models, this starts with the highly effective and stiff body structure that absorbs the impact energy in defined crush zones and provides high resistance to deformation of the passenger safety cell.A high amount of Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) delivers a rigid, yet lightweight passenger cell, providing greater side and frontal impact protection.Extra strong materials enable window pillars to be very slim and help maximise visibility. Through the implementation of more dual phase steels – located in the rocker, tunnel, A- and B-pillars – the integrity of the passenger cell has been further improved without significantly adding weight.The new Ford Kuga builds on a strong heritage and no-compromise approach to safety, refining the Ford Intelligent Protection System (IPS) further through the use of its high strength steel and impact protection advances. IPS is a cohesive system of passive safety features, which work together to maximise occupant protection. This is supported by advanced and comprehensive active safety equipment that positively assists the driver.Passive safetyFord’s proven ‘Intelligent Protection System’ for the Ford Kuga incorporates a number of standard safety features. A total of six airbags include front and side airbags for front seats plus head and shoulder curtain airbags covering the first and second row of seats. Additional standard features are anti-submarining seats with height adjustable headrests for all passengers; pyrotechnic safety belt pre-tensioners and safety belt load limiters for the front seats.A driver protection feature already established in Ford of Europe’s large and luxury car segment is the Horizontal Stroking Steering Column. In the event of a high-speed frontal impact the steering wheel strokes horizontally away from the driver, further reducing loads to the occupant’s head and chest.To provide the best possible occupant safety – including rear passengers and child seat safety – the vehicle deceleration ‘crash pulse’ of the Ford Kuga is optimised to achieve a low and distributed pulse level. An effective average deceleration level can only be achieved if a maximum of the front end length can be used for deformation and the passenger compartment intrusions are fully controlled.The crash pulse for the Ford Kuga has been optimised and the passive restraint systems adapted accordingly to ensure that airbag activation, for example, is precisely tailored to the type of impact the vehicle is involved in.Ford has also developed a front axle subframe system, which is designed to decouple from the body structure in the event of a frontal impact. Decoupling provides high levels of passenger protection and it is designed to release under a predefined load. Avoiding large deformation and accelerations within the passenger cell structure reduces loads to the driver and passengers. The decoupling feature is a technology that is proprietary to Ford Motor Company.Ford Kuga front seat occupants also benefit from an advanced neck injury protection system. The advanced headrest shape provides minimal relative movement between the occupant’s head and upper body during low-speed rear impacts. The headrest is designed to allow guidance of the occupant, as early guidance keeps the head and neck free of impulsive movement, resulting in less neck strain.Additional passive safety features support the driver and passengers in the new Ford Kuga.Seatbelt reminders are fitted as standard for the front seat passenger and the driver to remind front occupants to correctly fasten their seatbelts. Unbelted occupants will be given an audible and visual warning. Seatbelt pre-tensioners are also fitted to the front seatbelts.ISOFIX child seat fasteners are fitted on both outer rear seats of the second row for easy handling and to provide facility for a high degree of child protection.Engineered for pedestrian protectionThe Ford Kuga has been developed to meet and exceed the latest pedestrian protection requirements. Special actions ensure the highest levels of pedestrian safety and injury mitigation in the event of a collision. These actions include soft bumper material, empty space between the bumper and the front panel and radiator, breakaway headlights, front wings manufactured from recycled plastic and a carefully shaped bonnet edge structure.Under-bonnet components are located a sufficient distance away from the outer skin to avoid a direct impact with pedestrians. Parts located within the potential impact zone have carefully engineered features such as ‘breakaway’ wiper spindles and ‘collapsible’ bonnet hinges.Active driver assistanceSignificant standard safety technologies provide high levels of driver control under all conditions. The standard Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) has Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Anti Rollover Mitigation (ARM), and includes Electronic Brake Assist (EBA). These systems are detailed in the Driving Quality section.Ford has also introduced an array of driver assistance technologies to the new Ford Kuga, including:Automatic hazard light activation under emergency braking‘Quickclear’ heated front windscreen on TitaniumSolar reflect Infra-Red (IR) windscreenHeadlamp levelling controlPower heated side mirrors with side indicators and puddle lampsBluetooth® with voice controlAuto headlights and wipers. Standard on Titanium series, sensors automatically detect reduced light or rain on the screen and switch on the headlights or wipers accordingly.The ‘intelligent’ AWD system has been devised and engineered to incorporate high standards of its own safety features. The standard ABS with DSC is further enhanced with an Anti Rollover Mitigation (ARM) feature.Active safety systems are a key element in assisting a driver to maintain control of the vehicle, reducing the risk of a collision. For the Ford Kuga, these include:Standard Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)Standard Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)Standard Traction Control System (TCS)Standard Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)Standard Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)In addition high-visibility rear lighting is a standard feature of both the Kuga Trend and Titanium. The combination of high-mounted LED third brake light, and unique rear lamp styling and indicator bulbs using the latest illumination technology underline the safety commitment.The bulbs are designed to last the car’s lifetime too, reducing the scenario of a rear light not working.

Ford’s engineers tailored, tuned and calibrated each component and aspect of the ride and handling to ensure the Ford Kuga carries the Blue Oval family pedigree for strong driving dynamics.

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The Titanium level of spec adds in extra features for comfort and convenience.‘Power start button (keyless start)The ‘Ford Power’ start button for easy, keyless vehicle activation is a standard feature of both the Trend and Titanium.Centrally and conveniently located in the instrument panel, the ‘Ford Power’ start button gives an engine activation time of less than 500 milliseconds.Instead of a conventional ignition key, the driver is provided with an electronic key fob, which simply needs to be detected by the system when in, for example, the driver’s pocket, for fast and convenient vehicle activation.To start the engine, the driver depresses the brake pedal and then pushes the button to fire the engine. A further push of the button switches the engine and ignition off, with a safeguard to prevent it being operated while the car is in motion.The entertainment and vehicle systems such as the wipers can be activated without starting the engine by pushing the button alone. The ‘Ford Power’ button is also used to switch off the engine. Once again, the engineers were keen to build in a more complex sequence to rule out the possibility of the button being briefly pushed or brushed against inadvertently.The ‘Ford Power’ button needs to be pressed and held for two seconds or to receive three short presses in a two-second timeframe in order to stop the engine.Mini tailgate opening –‘Liftgate in Liftgate’A mini opening tailgate provides a neat opening for the main luggage compartment to place or remove relatively small items without opening the entire tailgate.The ‘liftgate in liftgate’ feature also provides a reduced height opening for those occasions where height restrictions may prevent the complete tailgate from raising to its full extent, such as being in a garage.Ford EasyFuel capless refuelling systemFord Kuga comes with Ford’s award-winning EasyFuel capless refuelling system as standard equipment. First launched on the new-generation Ford Mondeo and also available in the Fiesta and Focus, the Ford EasyFuel system is simple and easy to use, and is designed to prevent vehicle mis-fuelling and the associated damage, inconvenience and expense.Benefits of the system are twofold; first, the lack of a conventional filler cap that needs to be removed prior to fuelling the car means that drivers have fewer things to touch, reducing the likelihood of fingers becoming tainted with fuel.Secondly, the system features a special fuel inhibitor that provides major protection against misfuelling at the fuel pump. The fuel filler neck aperture has been designed around the different sizes of fuel nozzle, and Ford has engineered the system to allow only a nozzle that matches the corresponding fuel type of the car to open and enter the filler neck.The use of mechanical devices around the nozzle opening and a special flap at the top of the fuel filler neck operate together to seal the opening and provide the same assurance that the system is as secure as when a properly fitted separate cap is used on conventional filling systems.The Ford EasyFuel system has been extensively tested in all crash impact modes including the standard 80 km/h rear impact followed by a rollover to confirm the system’s safety. 12-volt power outletsFord Kuga customers can stay connected courtesy of three 12-volt power outlets in the cabin. These can provide direct power for laptops, printers, vacuum cleaners and other day-to-day appliances. Each of the outlets is conveniently located in the cabin – one in the centre console, one in the rear passenger area and one in the luggage area.Connectivity moduleA new connectivity module hidden away in the centre console includes a USB port and auxiliary jack. Any portable audio device can be connected to the Ford Kuga’s audio systems either via a conventional 3.5mm jack (not included with the vehicle) or the USB port which forms part of the connectivity module.  The AUX connector allows control of the latest generation personal audio players through the main audio system.The connectivity module enables functions beyond music entertainment as it also provides customers with voice control of audio systems and climate control. In addition, hands-free and voice control operation of mobile telephones is possible thanks to Bluetooth® technology.In-car entertainment and infotainment featuresThe new Ford Kuga offers a comprehensive array of in-car entertainment and infotainment features and systems. For added connectivity, the Sony single CD facility is enhanced with Bluetooth® voice control and connectivity for portable music and USB mass storage devices, which can be connected to the separate AUX-in socket located in the centre console.The Bluetooth® handsfree and voice control system enables voice control for a mobile phone, audio system and, in the Titanium, the Dual Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (DEATC) system. Features include direct access to the phone book memory through the audio system and voice-controlled dialling for safer handsfree calling.Panoramic roof (Titanium model)At 1050mm x 785mm the glass area of the panoramic Ford Kuga roof in the Titanium is one of the largest in the segment. To make sure the harsh summer sun is kept at bay, two manual sunblinds are also fitted for those occasions when shade is desired. In addition, the roof glass has a special infra-red (IR) coating that has proven during internal tests to reduce reflection by 35 per cent, as opposed to five per cent for non-IR glass./ford/kuga