Articles by CarsGuide team

The limousine that carries United States President-elect Barack Obama is a specially built, rocket-repelling, high-tech Cadillac limousine. Forget your average six-stacker CD stereo and leather appointments, Obama's limo takes power and luxury to new levels. Cadillac says the side and rear profiles of the new Presidential limo are evocative of the STS and DTS sedans. Inside, the car includes the finest examples of Cadillac's recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand, the same process used in popular Cadillac models such as the CTS sedan. Unlike the CTS sedan though, the limo gets a few special options. Night vision glasses, pump-action shotguns, tear gas cannons and even the bottles of the President's blood are believed to be stored on board just in case he needs an emergency transfusion. The limo, which tips the scales at around four tonnes and cost almost $1 million, uses a General Motors truck chassis as its basis to handle the weight. as well as a powerful 6.5-litre diesel engine. The huge kevlar-reinforced tyres are bullet-proof and among many purpose-built aspects of the car, including plumbing for high-tech secure radio reception and an internal oxygen supply in the event of a gas attack. The glass is, of course, bullet and bomb proof, the doors are reinforced and weigh the same as a commercial Boeing aircraft cabin door while the bodywork is a combination of high-strength steel, titanium and even ceramic to break up possible projectiles. The car was designed, developed and tested by terrorist and military specialists who adhered to an extensive set of specifications. It was subjected to an extreme testing regimen to ensure the occupants survived just about any attack short of a nuclear bomb. Cadillac refuses to talk about the car's security systems, only saying that “security provisions were undertaken at all times during development to ensure the car's functional capabilities are preserved and confidential”. An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel. Presidential seals are also affixed to the exterior rear doors. The US flag is placed on the right front fender, and the presidential standard is located on the left front fender when the president travels in the vehicle. High-tech LED spotlights illuminate the flags at night.

You can’t help but notice that despite all the conspiracy theories, electric cars are in the news, in the reviews and soon to be in the showrooms. But they’re still considered something of an oddity. And there’s still debate about their future. This film follows four people who could be said to each hold a compass point in the debate. GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz is signature Detroit industry. Elon Musk is the dot-com whizzkid who wants to show Detroit how it should be done – with his Tesla brand. Nissan-Renault boss Carlos Ghosn wants to put an affordable electric in every household. "Gadget" Abbott is a home inventor and one of the multitude who are converting cars to electric. Filming for Chris Paine’s follow-up movie started very soon after he finished Who Killed The Electric Car, but a great deal of the footage – including the carmakers’ strategy and planning meetings – was under embargo until this year. That date alone suggests the automotive industry thinks we’re in a change phase. But we still have to wait for the movie theatre industry to catch up. At the moment you’ve only been able to see the doco in selected screenings as it does the festival rounds.

The front-wheel-drive, petrol 2.0 TFSI and diesel 2.0 TDI are examples of Audi's engine downsizing philosophy which sees large engine capacity replaced by smart forced induction techniques to achieve outstanding fuel consumption while maintaining performance and driving enjoyment. The most fuel-efficient engine in the new A6 is the 2.0 TDI. Almost entirely redeveloped, it generates 130kW/380 Nm. A multitronic CVT transmission drives the front wheels to give fuel consumption of 5.0 L/100km. It's capable of the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.2 seconds. The turbocharger with adjustable vanes (VGT) provides spontaneous torque buildup at an early stage in the cycle. The 132kW/320Nm turbo petrol 2.0 TFSI engine uses Audi's valvelift system which varies the lift of the exhaust valve. Paired with the multitronic transmission and front-wheel drive, this engine propels the A6 from 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. The engine consumes 6.4L/100 km. Both of these new four-cylinder A6 variants utilise Audi efficiency technologies, including an innovative thermal management system that lowers fuel consumption by approximately 0.1 litres per 100km.  A start-stop system is also standard across the A6 range and shuts off the engine after the Audi A6 has come to a stop for further fuel savings. The energy recovery system utilises the kinetic energy of the car as it decelerates. Among the technologies in the A6 lineup is the latest version of Audi's Drive Select dynamic handling system, which now includes an additional mode the Efficiency program.

... utility and electrical vehicle supply equipment companies to speed development of cheaper, smaller, quick chargers for electric vehicle batteries, and accelerate the installation of publicly-available Quick Charge (QC) points across Europe. The agreement, between Nissan, Circutor, DBT, Efacec, Endesa and Siemens is expected to result in a dramatic reduction in the price of the units - by over half to under $10K - paving the way for businesses such as service stations, car park operators and retail outlets to install quick chargers and run them profitably as a commercial enterprise. This will mean Nissan LEAF drivers, and other quick charge enabled vehicles, could use their car for longer journeys and recharge the car's battery to 80% capacity in less that half an hour. As a result, it is expected that there will now be thousands of QCs across Europe by the end of 2012, and tens of thousands by 2015.

The Lexus GS F Sport – which will be officially unveiled on November 1 at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas – has several unique features to set it apart from the standard Lexus GS. Visual cues include a sportier body treatment, with a mesh grille, aggressive front bumper and skirt and rear lip spoiler. The Lexus GS F Sport  rolls on staggered-width 19-in alloy wheels and 235/40/19 front and 265/35/19 rear tyres - the widest rear rubber ever on a Lexus sedan – to improve traction. It has adaptive sports suspension, thicker anti-roll bars, up-rated bushes and a range of technical systems to improve dynamics. These include Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) and a Lexus Dynamic Handling (LDH) system with Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS). With the systems monitoring vehicle speed, steering direction and driver inputs, Lexus says the best angle is calculated for all four wheels and both front and rear wheel steering angles can be independently managed to help improve turn-in response, rear grip, vehicle control and overall agility when cornering. Dynamic Rear Steer (a first for Lexus) alters the rear wheel angles between 0 and 2 degrees - offering greater manoeuvrability at low to mid speeds (up to 80km/h) and stability at higher speeds over 80km/h. It carries Toyota’s 228kW/371Nm 3.5-litre V6 engine with a twin injection fuel system (combines direct injection with traditional port injection) that gets Lexus GS F Sport from 0-100km/h in under 6 seconds.

A limited edition of 99 GTA Spano models will be produced. This car accelerates from 0 to 100 Km/h in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of over 350 km/h. Its chassis has been created by combining carbon fibre, titanium and Kevlar, offering great rigidity and it weighs only 56kg. GTA Spano has its own V10 engine, which is longitudinally positioned at the rear with 600kW and 960Nm. One of GTA Spano's main innovations is its panoramic glass roof, which has exclusive interior lighting and an opaqueness system, giving the cockpit style interior a feeling of  space.

The Toyota Means Business campaign finance rate, which is available until the end of the year, applies to Toyota's most popular model ranges, including Corolla, RAV4, Camry and Kluger. Aside from the low interest rate, Toyota's finance campaign is also distinguished by Toyota Finance Advantage which gives customers flexible finance options, compared with some other offers in the market. While the 3.9 per cent rate is fixed for the life of the loan, choosing other finance options such as the length of loan term (between one and four years), level of deposit (starting from 0 per cent) and size of a final balloon payment can all be discussed with a Toyota dealer during the program period. The Toyota Means Business 3.9 per cent offer ends on December 31 and is available across current-generation models of Aurion, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Kluger, Prius, RAV4, Yaris, HiLux 4x2 WorkMates and HiAce long wheelbase vans. Full details of the finance offer, including full terms and conditions and applicable models, are available at toyota.com.au/special-offers.

Grand Vitara Sport is now available, adding improved levels of performance and value. Sport features 18-inch alloy wheels, new Bombora Aqua seat fabric, a new front grille and new silver colored roof rails and side fins. It also comes standard with hill hold control and hill descent control. Prices start at $31,990 drive away price. The arrival of  GV Sport marks the return to full production of the Grand Vitara range, which has suffered from stock constraints in Australia since the March Japan tsunami. Suzuki has signalled additional price cuts across the Grand Vitara range.

A dual purpose machine built for the streets, the DR-Z is one of Australia's most popular Super Motard motorcycles and is ideal for fun on the weekend or the daily commute. A compact 398cc, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine delivers strong torque throughout a broad powerband, and its slim design provides the full supermotard experience. With a lightweight, chrome-moly frame and motocross-inspired long travel suspension, riders of the DR-Z will enjoy sensational handling in the urban environment. The Learner Approved DR-Z features powerful 310mm front and 240mm rear disc brakes. A convenient electric starter and easy-to-read digital instrumentation of speedometer, odometer, dual tripmeters, clock and stopwatch complete an all-round supermotard package. In a dramatic black colour scheme and backed by a 12-month warranty, the 2012 Suzuki DR-Z400 is now available for $9,090.

The Pop The Top Festival – and Australian Soft Top Expo – will start on Satruday, December 3, with a parade through the small town of Jindera, 10 10 minutes from Albury-Wodonga on the border. Following the parade – which will feature swimwear models accompanying the drivers (which must be a joyful thought for any woman soft-top owners wanting to attend). This will be followed by the opening of the inaugural expo displays of latest model convertibles, music, judging, interviews and entertainment hosted by comedian John Walker – formerly of formerly of TV show Full Frontal. The event will include catering and market stalls, a summer fashion parade and a Saturday night drive-in theatre. On the Sunday, December 4, soft-top drivers will enjoy a lavish breakfast before touring Greater Hume Shire landmarks -- including famous bushranger Mad Dog Morgan’s look-out – take part in a photo-shoot and then an awards ceremony lunch at Tabletop Mountain. The event already has registrations from Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, and is designed as a national get together for like-minded soft top drivers. John Walker says the festival will be a chance to enjoy perfect soft-top early summer weather in a great part of the country. “Since I was a young man, I have always loved the idea of a pop top on the open road, feeling the breeze racing through my hair, the freedom of seeing the landscape rush past, with music making a summer’s day seem like it would last forever,” he says. “So the opportunity this summer to meet other soft top enthusiasts and see their cars and hear of their adventures will be fantastic.” For the full program and bookings go to: www.australiansofttopexpo.com.au or call Colleen Lord OAM on 02 6026 3006.