Articles by Chris Riley

I keep joking that someone should hold a seance to find out what the original Mini's designer Alec Issigonis thinks about the new one, especially the growing diversity of models.Old Sir Alec died 25 years ago but back in his day there was just the Mini and the Mini wagon/panel van, as well as a ute but that was about it. Fast forward and we have just finished driving the seventh variation of the new Mini  the Paceman.VALUEA two-door, four-seat coupe, based on the off road Countryman, the Paceman is priced from $35,900, or from $44,100 for the more powerful Cooper S model (the subject of our review). Built in Austria standard kit includes 16 inch alloys, sports suspension, sports seats, leather steering wheel, front and rear fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, Chrome line interior and Bluetooth with USB interface. The Cooper S adds Dynamic Traction Control, Sport Button, 17inch alloys, clear indicator lenses and stainless steel trim for the pedals and footrest.TECHNOLOGYIt's powered by the same 1.6-litre engine as other Minis, this one with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection producing 135kW of power and 240Nm of torque, with an extra 20Nm available briefly via overboost between 1700 and 4500 revs. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual or optional six speed automatic gearbox, with drive to the front wheels.Overseas the car is also offered with all-wheel drive, like the Countryman on which is is based. It's fitted with lowered sports suspension as standard, but still rides about 10mm higher than a regular Cooper S  although the car can also be ordered with regular suspension and ride height as a no-cost option.The Cooper S version also comes with DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) that allows controlled slip through the driven wheels. When the system is deactivated an electronic diff lock brakes whichever drive wheel is spinning to enhance handling. In terms of performance the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 217 km/h. Fuel consumption for the manual is 6.6 and for the auto, 7.5 litres/100km (we were getting 7.8 after about 600km of mixed driving).DESIGNWe don't get it, but like a shark the Mini has to keep moving forward or it drown and sink to the bottom. In effect, this is the Mini equivalent of the equally weird looking BMW X6, also described as a sports activity vehicle. It's almost as big and heavy as the Countryman and the only one so far to have a name on the back. BMW of course owns the Mini franchise.SAFETYUnlike the Mini Cooper, which scores a full five stars for safety, Countryman gets only four stars for from the Australian ANCAP organisation and we can only assume Paceman will score the same (it hasn't been rated yet).Comes with a full complement of safety equipment including six airbags, electronic traction and stability control, an electronic differential lock and anti lock brakes with brake assist, corner braking control and electronic brake force distribution.DRIVINGCan't argue with the way it goes. It's a great engine that likes to rev with plenty of torque down low. The manual shift is easy to use and third gear offers a broad range for corner to corner work. But the car has a tendency to move around on choppy, secondary roads when put under pressure, especially the rear wheels which are prone to lift off.Fitted with 205/55 17s, the tyres have plenty of grip but the taller body structure and higher centre of gravity come into play eventually, reducing the limits of its handling. Having said that it was more than a match for a group of motorcycles that we encountered during a searching test drive, although by the looks of them they were still learning how to setup their corners properly.A defining feature of the car, the huge centre speedo is almost impossible to read at a glance, but fortunately the smaller unit atop the steering column offers a digital readout. Although described as a four seater larger passengers may find it a bit cramped back there.VERDICTWe like it. The head says no but the heart says yes  but if we were contemplating the purchase of a Mini any day soon we'd probably opt for the regular one and a Cooper S (the JCW is just too expensive).Mini Paceman Cooper SPrice: from $44,100Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCapped servicing: noResale: 56% (Glass's)Service interval: 12 months/25,000km (condition based)Safety: 5 stars (Countryman)Engine: 1.6-litre 16-valve direct-injection turbo 4-cyl, 135kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed auto; FWDThirst: 7.5l/100km, tank 47 litres, on test 10.6, 95RON PULP; 166g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.1m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h)Weight: 1330kgSpare: run-flats

You get the feeling this is a car built to a price. A very good price but a price nevertheless, with some features removed and others added to get down to the figure.You see the Holden Trax is a global model, sold in many countries, under many names and in many forms. It's the company's first entry in the emerging light SUV segment, off roaders that are smaller again than the current crop of small SUVs.The lineup has been restricted to just the one engine, with no sign of all-wheel drive and the manual transmission is a five speed  not a six that is the norm these days. But, at starting price of $23,490, it's $2500 less than its nearest competitor and that's a mighty strong argument.Both the LS and more expensive LTZ get a 7 inch touchscreen, reversing camera, cruise control, rear parking sensors, six airbags and Bluetooth with audio streaming. LTZ adds an auto, 18 inch wheels, fog lights, heated front seats and a trip computer and is priced from $27,990. A five speed manual is standard on the LS, a six-speed auto a $2200 option.Designed and built in South Korea, Trax is based on the same platform as the Barina, but sits higher offering a coveted high driving position. The 1.8-litre four cylinder ECOTEC engine is as old as Adam, with 103kW of power and 175Nm of torque.It seen service in one form or another in a variety of vehicles over the years, most recently in the Cruze sedan and hatch. But Holden reckons this latest version is the best yet, with a recalibrated automatic and ride and handling that has been tuned by Holden engineers to deliver the kind of response expected from a Holden.With a 53 litre tank, fuel consumption for the manual is rated at 7.0 litres/100km and for the auto, 7.6 litres/100km, with a CO2 output of 164g/km giving it a Green Vehicle Guide rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars (Prius scores 5). The lower gear ratios in the auto have been shortened to give the wagon a better launch feel while the higher gears in the manual have been also changed to deliver extended performance.Overseas, the car is available with all-wheel drive, as well as diesel and turbocharged petrol engines. But at this stage it's unlikely we'll see any of them because the biggest problem is going to be getting enough cars to meet expected demand. In other countries where it is sold, its siblings have been a runaway success.A bit like Doctor Who's Tardis, it's bigger on the inside than it appears, with plenty of headroom front and back and an impressive amount of rear legroom. The 7 inch touchscreen is not as large as that in the Commodore, but still large enough to stand out.It offers a range of integrated apps, but all rely on your smartphone to work, including the BringGo navigation system that sadly like Commodore does not provide speed camera or school zone warnings. A tiny, second glove box with a power outlet is provided above the main one for the phone itself.Speaking of power outlets, it's the first car we've seen with a 240 volt, three-prong outlet like the one in your living room that is capable of powering a laptop. A full size steel spare is available as a no cost option.Five stars thank you very much, with six airbags and electronic traction and stability control, along with anti-lock brakes, with hill start assist and electronic brake force distribution. Having said that we were a bit surprised to see drum brakes fitted to the rear of the car.The manual is clearly the pick of the pair, with sharper engine response and a sportier drive feel. But here's the thing, you can't get a manual with the better equipped LTZ model and that means foregoing a trip computer with distance to empty. Holden has spent some time tuning the transmission, engine and suspension.It claims the the auto is the best yet, better even than the larger and heavier Cruze with the same 1.8-litre engine/transmission combination  but we don't think so. It labours and chops and changes gears too frequently in full auto mode while the sequential manual change is awkward to use. It's the same setup as that in the recently released Malibu sedan, with a rocker switch at the top of the shifter that you operate with your thumb. Guess practice makes perfect?

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?Replaces the Tiida. Bigger than you might think, just like the Pulsar of old. The Ti is Nissan's top of the line Pulsar with all the bells and whistles.Prices for Pulsar start from $19,990, or $22,390 driveaway. This one goes for $28,990 before on road costs or from $31,660 driveaway.Plenty of them. Mazda3, Corolla, Lancer, Elantra, Cerato to name a few (all of them for around the same price).Nothing special. 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine. It delivers 96kW of power and 174Nm of torque. The engine in the Ti is paired with a seamless CVT auto  but unlike other CVTs does not offer a manual mode.The beauty of CVT is that it continuously optimises power versus economy. This means at 100km/h the engine is barely ticking over at 1700 revs, while at the other end of the gearing spectrum it delivers sharp acceleration off the line.Has a 52-litre tank and takes standard 91RON unleaded. It's rated at 6.7 litres/100km but we were getting closer to 6.2. Mind you the trip computer shows kilometres per litre.Produces 160g/km of CO2 and gets a four out of five star rating from the Green Vehicle Guide (Prius gets five).Gets the Australian stamp of approval with a five-star crashing rating from ANCAP. Comes with six airbags, reversing camera, four-wheel disc brakes, Traction and Vehicle Dynamic Control, ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution, with Brake Assist.Bigger than the Tiida that it replaces, it's quite roomy inside with large, comfortable seats and a huge boot.Easy and adequate, but largely uninspiring. This is a car to get you from A to B. The CVT auto is the pick and delivers better economy. If you want a manual you'll have to drop back a grade and deal with throttle flair.Ti gets partial leather and dual zone air and 17 inch alloys along with satellite navigation as standard. Comes with a full size spare and Bluetooth, but the latter is a right pain in the butt to hook up.It's all about value and for many people this car will represent the perfect solution to the value for money equation.

I could be suffering from 'F' lag. It's like jet lag, but you get it from spending too much time in a Ferrari. A couple of days is all right but any longer than this and you simply won't want to give it back.It leaves this horrible, gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach  an emptiness that just can't be filled. I started to feel this way shortly after handing back the keys to the fabulous 458 Spider on Friday afternoon. The first day you're too cautious to enjoy the experience, the next day you start to get the hang of it and by the third day you and the car begin to bond  then just as suddenly it's over . . .VALUEBig breath. It kicks off from $588,000 with various carbon fibre bits and pieces extra for ludicrous amounts of money. Not even my surgeon mate who owns a Porsche can afford one of these babies. This is a bloke who works 90 hours a week and can remove a brain tumour through your nose. In which case, what the hell hope is there for a paper bagger like me?DESIGNIt's incredibly low and wide, almost too wide for our driveway gates which in part contributes to its fantastic handling. Push the button and the Pininfarina styled, mid-engined sports car magically transforms into an open topped roadster, with two seats  one for you and anyone game to be your passenger.There's a penalty for this convenience because you lose the transparent engine cover of the hardtop. Most people comment on how quiet the car, that is until the baffles open and the exhaust gives full vent to the V8. Then you can hear it coming from a block away.ENGINEIt's powered by a 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 that delivers 419kW of power at 9000 revs and 540Nm of torque at 6000 revs, enough mumbo to propel the mid-engined Spider from rest to 100km/h in a withering 3.4 seconds. The old 'quarter mile' takes 11.4 seconds and it has a top speed where permissible of 320km/h.The state of the art V8 features direction injection and a dry sump, with fuel consumption of 11.8 litres/100km from the 86 litre tank. Although it has a trip computer, the one thing it doesn't tell you is average fuel consumption  suffice to say we got just under 500km from the 86-litre tank. But, as the service manager pointed out, if you can afford to own one, you're not going to be too concerned about how much fuel it uses.DRIVINGWe were tentative, very tentative at first. But the Spider is actually very easy to drive once you get the hang of it. Several "take me for a rides" later, we were banging through the gears like a pro. The V8 is hooked up to a seven-speed twin clutch Getrag transmission that operates as an auto, or you can change gears with the large, steering wheel mounted change paddles.Doing so elicits a much more satisfying response, with a jolt each time it changes up  bang, bang, bang! The sound is to die for. Various drive modes are accessed through the Manettino flip switch affixed to the steering wheel, from wet to sport to full off for the traction system.Reverse is engaged via a button at the the foot of the centre instrument console and there is even a button for raising the front of the car so it doesn't scrape over driveways. The JBL audio system is secreted somewhere behind the dash and the controls are accessible only though the right hand of the two computer screens which doubles as a huge digital speedometer.VERDICTIt's a cruel world. How can something so spectacularly good remain so impossibly out of reach. Then again what is the point when the speed limit is 110km/h and it can do 320km/h, with plenty of cops wanting nothing better than to put your red feather in their cap   the disconnect is enormous.Ferrari 458 SpiderPrice: from $588,000Engine: 4.5-litre V8 , 419kW/540NmTransmission: seven-speed twin clutch auto, RWDThirst: 17.2L/100km (as tested), 11.8L/100km combined cycle0-100 km/h: 3.4 seconds 

Surprise, surprise. Toyota has been caught out by the success of its first diesel RAV. For years we've hounded local execs to introduce a diesel version of its best-selling soft roader. Instead of listening they introduced a V6. But that's all changed with the introduction of the latest RAV4 the V6 is gone and demand of the diesel has exceeded expectations. Doh…TECHNOLOGYThe 2.2-litre common-rail turbo-diesel delivers 110kW of power and 340Nm of torque, the latter in rather narrow range between 2000 and 2800 revs. It's paired with a traditional six-speed auto but the driver can change gears manually if desired. It's not hi-tech, but it's smooth and powerful and doesn't suck much fuel and that's all that is required. With a 60-litre tank, fuel consumption is rated at 6.5 litres/100km for the auto (we've been getting a solid 7.3).VALUEIt's bigger and better looking than before and comes in two and four-wheel drive guise, with a choice of three engines, three transmissions and three trim levels: GX, GXL and top of the range Cruiser. Our test vehicle is the mid-range, all-wheel drive diesel GXL priced from $38,990 with the optional $2500 auto fitted that takes the price to $41,490 before on-roads.Standard equipment includes Bluetooth, 6-speaker CD audio, roof rails, a rear spoiler, a cargo net and privacy screen, with a rear seat that reclines and is split 60/40. GXL adds 17-inch alloys, a reversing camera, computer screen, sporty seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, power-retractable exterior mirrors, keyless smart entry and push-button ignition.DESIGNIt looks a lot like the Corolla and the look will obviously be carried over to other models too. It's a lot bigger than RAVs of old too, but because the spare wheel has been moved from the back door it's actually 55mm shorter.SAFETYRAV scores a full five stars for crash safety. Seven airbags, stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, tilt-and-telescopic steering column and cruise control are all standard equipment, while automatic AWD models get downhill assist to help manage slippery descents.DRIVINGWe like it. It's easy to drive with comfortable seats and roomy interior. The diesel provides plenty of oomph, particularly in the low to mid-range where you want it. During normal driving the wagon remains predominantly front wheel drive to reduce fuel consumption. When things get slippery the all-wheel drive kicks in to provide sure-footed, four-paw grip.There's also a new Sport mode to liven things up. It weights up the steering, sharpens throttle response and delivers more aggressive gearshifts. Rear legroom is generous. Thinner front seats create an extra 41mm of leg space for rear seat occupants. The tow capacity is now 1000kg or one tonne (from July 2013 production).VERDICTThis one's a keeper. Looks good, goes good and doesn't use much fuel but GXL misses out on satellite navigation.

Infiniti? They're made by Nissan aren't they? It's the first thing people ask when see the car. The answer is yes, they are the Nissan equivalent of Toyota's Lexus luxury brand. They've been doing business for many years now, but have only just started selling cars here in Australia (after years talking about it).VALUEPriced from $85,900, $97,900 for the better equipped S Premium, the M is one of Infiniti's core models. It's a large rear-wheel drive luxury sedan that comes in petrol, diesel and hybrid petrol-electric versions.Standard kit includes leather and climate air, auto lights and wipers, active cruise control, power adjust steering, bi-xenon lights that turn, Bluetooth with audio streaming, satellite navigation and a 6-speaker premium sound system.The S Premium package adds 4-wheel Active Steer (4WAS), sport-tuned suspension, sport brakes and larger, 20-inch alloy wheels, not to mention a hi-end Bose audio system.TECHNOLOGYThe 3.7 litre produces 235kW of power and 360Nm of torque. The engine is hooked up to a seven-speed auto that adapts to the driver's style of driving, as well as including a manual mode with shift paddles. Drive is to the rear wheels and it does the dash from 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.Fuel consumption is rated at 10.2 litres/100km and it takes Premium unleaded (we were getting 11.2). DESIGN Infiniti bills itself as luxury brand but with an emphasis on performance, that is as a driver's car. The car goes well enough but lacks the opulent feel of other luxury brands, even though the expected leather and wood are present. Some may see this as a plus, others may not... By the way the paint is self-healing in case it is scratched.SAFETYGets a full five stars for safety. It's equipped with a number of advanced safety features including Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) and the Premium adds Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Blind Spot Intervention (BSI).Other available safety features include Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Front Pre-Crash Seat Belts.DRIVINGWe drove the hybrid recently and while it was good, the V6 does an admirable job by itself without the support of an electric motor. Mind you, it's the larger 3.7-litre six, not the 3.5. With sport mode selected the drive experience is fairly aggressive.The rear becomes a bit skittish in damp conditions, but the electronics are there to catch it if things get out of hand. Four-mode drive control adjusts throttle and transmission mapping, as well as 4-Wheel Active Steer settings, Dynamic Cornering Enhancement and Eco Pedal (where available).Infiniti makes a big deal about the active noise cancellation system (like they use in headphones), but it doesn't sound any quieter inside to us. The seats are heated and cooled and the `intelligent' key remembers last used audio, navigation and climate settings, as well as linking to seat, steering wheel and side view mirror positions through the dual occupant memory system.VERDICTIt grows on you. The look is understated and we loved the grey, almost white paint job. Feels nothing like a Lexus, but it's nowhere near as quiet inside as a Lexus either.Infiniti M37 S PremiumPrice: from $97,900Engine: 3.7-litre 6-cylinder, 235 kW/ 360 NmTransmission: seven-speed sports automatic transmission, RWDThirst: 10.2 L/100km, 235 g/km CO2

Picture this. A deserted canyon road on the edges of the desert in California. A lone eagle wheels high overhead, a squirrel bounds crazily across the road as the sound of a car approaches.It comes roaring around the corner, engine revving, tyres squealing, the driver struggling to maintain contact with the road, travelling much too fast for comfort. No. It's not a Corvette, nor a Porsche nor for that matter any of the likely European candidates - just a humble Japanese hatch.But humble is perhaps not the right word because this the latest Mazda3 has what it takes to mix it with the best, certainly better than anything else from the Japanese and at least the equal of the ubiquitous Golf. Impressive. That's the word that springs to mind.New from the ground up, the third generation Mazda3 lobs here late January at the earliest and for Mazda it probably won't come a moment too soon as it struggles to hang on to the 3's crown as Australia's best-selling car.It's too early to hit the panic button yet but the figures show Toyota's evergreen Corolla outsold Mazda3 for the first time in many months in June, with the excellent Hyundai i30 so close behind it must feel the Korean's breath on the back of its neck.VALUENo word on the price of the new Mazda3 yet, apart from the fact it will not be $19,990, the run-out price for the current model. Mazda reckons it's better than that, a “game changer” and new benchmark for the small car segment, it says.But take a look at the opposition and you can bet your bottom dollar the figure won't to be too far from any of them, with Pulsar priced from $18,990, Corolla and Lancer from $19,990, Civic from $20,490 and the i30 from $20,990 - with the base model Golf kicking off from $21,490.We're tipping Mazda3 will be priced from $20,990, with at least three grades from which to choose - although prices, grades and equipment levels are all still to be finalised. Set the price too high in this segment, no matter how good the car might be, and it would be tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot.TECHNOLOGYMazda has resisted the trend to smaller, force-fed engines. It believes it can achieve the same if not better results using existing engines, which avoids the weight and complexity issues added by turbos. The car will be offered with a choice of two engine at launch, the Skyactiv G 2.0-litre petrol engine and the new Skyactiv G 2.5-litre petrol engine. The chassis, body and indeed every part of the car have been engineered to work in harmony, with the overall weight reduced by 70kg.The 2.0-litre option produces 114kW of power and 200Nm of torque while the larger 2.5-litre power plant has an output of 138kW and 250Nm. They are the same engines that can be found in the CX-5 and larger Mazda6 models and will be paired with either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission.A diesel model will follow later, but there's no word on when and the jury is still out on the MPS performance model - we're told it's way down the list of priorities. Fuel consumption for the 2.0-litre engine is estimated at 5.7 litres/100km and for the larger 2.5 engine, 6.1 litres/100km. These figures have been achieved without the i-ELOOP system fitted to cars in the States, deemed too costly for our market. This means no brake energy regeneration and no front air intakes that open and close automatically to improve air flow. We will however get automatic engine stop/start that cuts fuel consumption.DESIGNIt was penned by the same Japanese bloke who gave us the CX-7. The all-new Mazda3 is a totally new design, from the ground-up , with an emphasis on Mazda's flowing KODO `Soul of Motion' design theme and a suite of Skyactiv fuel saving technologies.With its long bonnet and upright radiator grille the hatch looks for the all the world like a lowered, scaled down version of the CX-5 or the Mazda6 in the case of the sedan which will be launched at the same time. The low nose is said to express a sense of forward motion while the headlights resemble the sharp eyes of a predator. A sense of speed is also conveyed by the roof spoiler at the rear along with the sleek, compact shape of the tail lights.The long bonnet that dominates the design was in fact necessary to accommodate the new exhaust manifold, an integral part of the Skyactiv improvements. The car's wheelbase is 60mm longer and it is 40mm wider and 15mm lower than its predecessor. But the hatch is the same length and the sedan just 10mm longer. The tradeoff is less luggage space in the boot, both in the sedan and hatch.SAFETYWe'd be surprised if it didn't get five stars, but Mazda is still to confirm how many of its new safety systems will be offered with the car. Smart city braking and blind spot awareness have been confirmed, but things like lane departure warning and radar cruise control are still up in the air. Likewise we don't know yet whether all grades will get a reversing camera or even whether the entry level model will get alloy wheels (we predict not).DRIVINGWe drove all three variants of the hatch this week in California: manual and automatic versions of the 2.0-litre petrol model as well as the larger 2.5-litre model that comes only as an automatic. Unfortunately, the cars were all pre-production models and the much hyped multimedia system with its tablet-like touchscreen interface was not enabled in any of them. Maybe they'll have a separate launch for it?The heads up display was working however and displays a digital version of the car's speed along with other information on a plastic screen that sits above the dash, much like the system pioneered by Peugeot. The car displayed an amazing amount of grip on the winding canyon roads that we encountered and remained controlled and composed at all times even when pushed very hard.The manual is light and easy to use and the auto transmission is quick, but perhaps not as quick as VW's dual clutch box, as claimed. It is however smoother and more refined, a feature that most drivers will probably value more.The electric steering system is another highlight of the car, light but communicative, with good turn into corners. The 2.0-litre model with the manual change is fun to drive, the 2.0-litre with auto less so - but the 2.5 with its extra torque stands out, with gear change paddles and a sport button offered for the first time. We got tired of chasing the change paddles around the wheel on the seemingly endless canyon roads, but the sport button with a more aggressive gear change pattern performs exceptionally well.VERDICTA worthy successor to the current Mazda3. It's styling is different but just as distinctive. This is an extremely important model for Mazda as it represents up to 50 per cent of all sales. Ride and handling is impressive, but we'll have to wait and see how it fares on Aussie roads with different tyres before passing final judgment.Mazda3On sale: Late January 2014Price: From $20,500 plus on-road costs (estimated)Engines: 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol enginesPower: 114kW and 200Nm (2.0) and 138kW ad 250Nm (2.5)Transmission: Six-speed automatic and six-speed manualConsumption: 5.7L/100km (2.0), 6.1L/100km (2.5)Service intervals: 10,000km, six monthsWarranty: Three years/unlimited kilometresFull-size spare: NoSafety: Six airbags, stability control. ANCAP safety rating TBA 

My first drive of the new VF and it's everyone's favourite: the Maloo ute. And not just any Maloo, but the top of the whiz R8 SV Enhanced version with 340kW underfoot --  more than the old GTS. From the outset it was apparent this was a much more refined, sophisticated beast. It's not just about cranking it over, revving it up and listening to the roar from the V8.