Articles by Chris Riley

As the mist parted to reveal the road snaking away along the side of the cliffs in Spain, it was easy to believe I had died and gone to heaven. Classic roads such as these near the famous Montserrat Abbey perched in the mountains above Barcelona are tailor-made for drivers and our V8-powered AMG super car was certainly up to the task- rarely do the two intersect.The roar of the big high revving V8 cannoned off the rock face that towered above us as the car powered from corner to corner. Thank you God!Australians love their fast cars and it doesn't get much better than this. You get more power and torque than before, but unfortunately we miss out on the new all-wheel drive system. Like Benz's small GLK soft roader, the 4MATIC system was never designed for right hand drive which is kind of silly really. In this model the previous AMG Performance Pack has morphed into a fully-blown 'S' model with even more power and torque, as well as plenty of other goodies.No word on pricing yet, but these cars aren't cheap and, when you see the engineering that goes into them - you can understand why (the current model starts at $240,000). But that still leaves plenty of room for options like the amazing 1200 watt, 14 speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.AMG is to Benz as HSV is to Holden, with AMG accounting for almost 8 per cent of Benz sales in Australia - one of the highest proportions in the world. Based on the new, facelifted E-Class, the AMG model features a single front facia design, unlike the donor car which offers two, along with the new single headlight cluster that employs LEDs to create the effect of twin lights - a hallmark of the car for three generations.It features a 48mm wider track at he front for improved handling, the front and rear bumpers have also been redesigned, with further cosmetic changes to distinguish the more powerful S model from its sibling, including larger wheels and red brake calipers.Inside there's plenty of logos and the S features contrast stitching on the leather plus contrasting silver coloured seatbelt webbing. Although the cars are limited to 250km/h the speedometer reads all the way to 320.Benz is renowned for safety and this car maintains that reputation, with a host of safety systems amalgamated under the heading of Intelligent Drive. Automatic braking is standard, to prevent rear enders as well as avoiding pedestrians and cameras/sensors provide a 360 degree view around the car looking up to 50 metres ahead, and even warning of traffic approaching from either side.Benz claims the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 is the most efficient series production V8 in the world. There's two models, both with the same size engine, but one with 410kW/720Nm and the other with 430kW/800Nm.In left hand drive form, it is also offered with all-wheel drive, split 33:67 front to back, potentially giving the car more grip and faster acceleration. To wit the all-wheel drive, 4MATIC S is able to dispatch the dash from 0-100km/h in a Ferrari-like 3.6 seconds.The rear-wheel drive S version that we are getting is good for 3.8-3.9 seconds - it hasn't been tested yet. While the rear-drive 410kW version is good for 4.2 seconds. Top speed of both cars is limited to 250km/h.18 inch wheels with 255/285 rubber are standard, while the S adds 19s with the same size tyres but with lower profiles, along with a rear diff lock - further aiding in putting all that power to ground.Both models are hooked up to an automatic, AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission, with paddle shifters, that blips the throttle on down changes, together with electro-mechanical variable speed sensitive steering.Start/stop is standard (but can be turned off) and the driver can select from a number of drive modes and the suspension is also adjustable, with air dampers holding up the rear.Despite the increase in power, the 410kW model consumes the same 9.8 litres/100km as its 386kW predecessor, while the 430kW model is expected to consume a fraction more - it too hasn't been tested.Basically, the car could still do with more grip. When you're pushing out this much power, the difference between 410 or 430kW is difficult to quantify, certainly well beyond our knowing.Suffice to say the E63 is mighty quick in either configuration, either off the line, in a straight line or through the twisty bits, as we discovered - although the latter requires some finesse. The sound and feel of the big V8 is almost tangible, especially in sport mode with the exhaust baffles fully open. The throaty roar from the quad pipes sounds like the hounds of hell themselves are approaching.We got to drive both the rear wheel drive 410kW model and top of the line all-wheel drive 430kW S model - both of them sedans. Just like previous E63 that we drove the back has a tendency to step out unless you're careful - traction control or no traction control. And the smaller 18 inch wheels on the standard car don't help matters.After a bit of trial and error we found the best way to drive the car, in fact the only way - is fast in and slow out of corners, braking deep and letting the car complete its turn and straighten up before hitting the throttle again. The beefy AMG brakes are superb but can be upgraded to ceramic discs if desired, at considerable cost however.Even with all-wheel drive to keep the car in check you need to remain watchful. At one point we pulled out to overtake, which can be accomplished in a nanosecond, and the car almost snapped sideways into the car we were trying to pass as we tromped the throttle.

Heads up because the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class touches down in Australia in six months. And, while it does not look or feel radically different from the current model, you get the feeling there has been a changing of the guard.The V8 powered E500, previously the top of the E-Class tree, has been unceremoniously dumped - consigned to an earlier time when fuel consumption and/or its detrimental effects on the environment were not the priority they are these days. To hammer home the point, the E-Class line up will also include a hybrid for the first time - and not just any old hybrid . . . but a diesel one.Benz hasn't revealed any prices yet. That won't happen until closer to the Australian launch in August. But expect prices to be "assertive'' to use their words, which in some cases might mean cheaper than the model it replaces.Benz is keen to deliver more E-Class sales and the way to do this is to kit out the car with better engines, more tech and a longer list of standard equipment. Prices for the current range start at just under $80,000 - expect the new E-Class to be close if not slightly less than this figure.Safety features are something the company is loathe to skimp on and automatic braking, to prevent costly rear-enders in traffic - is sure to be standard.One of the biggest changes has been the consolidation of the twin front lights into a single headlight cluster. It has been a hallmark of the car for three generations and was the subject of much discussion prior to its introduction.Suffice to say Benz has managed to create a twin light effect, using LED technology to separate the one light into two distinct groups instead. You wait until you see it.The other big change is the adoption of two front facias, just like Benz has done with the smaller C-Class - Elegance and Avantgarde. There's no prizes for guessing which style will be most popular with Aussies, where Avantgarde outsells the more conservative Elegance look with its raised Benz three-pointed star at a rate of almost 10 to 1.Five stars for sure. Benz wrote the safety book when it comes to technology. It doesn't get any safer than this, with the usual fare, including multiple airbags and electronic traction and stability control - plus a long list of standard/optional safety features.They include the aforementioned steering assist, high beam assist and rear ender prevention. The latter detects the presence of pedestrians up to a speed of 50km/h, at which point it will stop the car automatically and quicker than you could ever hope to do so yourself.The chance of injury continues to be lessened up to a speed of 72km/h - after which you're on your own. The high-beam assist system is so new Benz it hasn't even been seen in the S-Class yet, and the company is faced with the daunting task of having to talk the Government into it - there's just no rules to accommodate it.The system is able to dip the all-LED head lights, but only in a narrow gap around an on-coming car - not completely (maintaing the driver's view of the road ahead). Also a combination of radar/cameras and ultra-sonic sensors create a 360 degree safety envelope, 50 metres around the car which can even warn of traffic entering the path of the car from either side.We'll be getting three petrol, two diesel and one hybrid model. There's the E200 four cylinder petrol model, the entry to the range with 135kW of power, 300Nm of torque and fuel consumption of 6.0 litres/100km, the E250 four cylinder petrol with 155kW/350Nm/6.1 litres/100km, and the new E400 Bi-Turbo 3.0-litre petrol V6 with 245kW/480Nm/7.7 litres/100km.The entry level diesel is the four cylinder 250CDI, with 150kW/500Nm/5.2 litres/100km, the V6 E350 Bluetec with 185kW/620Nm/5.7 litres/100km and the four cylinder E300 Bluetec Hybrid, with 170kW/750Nm/4.4 litres/100km.The latter is basically the same engine as the E250 CDI with the addition of an electric motor to give it some extra oomph and to reduce fuel consumption. The wagon will be available withe the E250 CDI diesel, as well as the E400 Bi-Turbo V6 - but the jury is still out on whether there will be an AMG version of the wagon - Benz only sold five last year.Details of the coupe and cabriolet will not be revealed until closer to launch later in the year. All are hooked up to a 7-speed automatic in Australia and all are fitted with fuel-saving stop/start technology.We got to drive three of the models at the international launch of the E-Class this week in Spain. The E250 CDI diesel is expected to be the biggest seller in the range again and deservedly so with 500Nm of torque, for most people all you'll need.The Hybrid with its extra power and lower fuel consumption figures could be a sleeper, providing the same kind of performance, if a little smoother - depending of course on the price. The E400 Bi-Turbo petrol V6 while not quite as quick off the line as the V8, at 5.3 versus 4.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash is pretty damn good and will go head-to-head with BMW's twin turbo six - something that has been lacking until now.It won't be anywhere near as expensive either - but it's still a big hop, step and a jump up to an AMG for a V8. Benz says the percentage of diesels it sells is now close to 50 percent in E-Class, but drive the Bi-Turbo V6, with its satisfying snarl and rapid throttle response and you won't want to give it back - trust me.

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?Honda's top of the line CR-V with all the trimmings. That means a leather, navigation and a more powerful 2.4-litre engine not to mention all-wheel drive.CR-V prices start at $27,490. This one will set you back $42,290 plus on-road costs.Plenty of them. RAV, CX-5, Captiva, X-Trail, Forester, Outlander, Sportage, Grand Vitara  the list goes on and on. This is one of the most competitive (and confusing) sections of the market.2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine. Produces 140kW of power and 222Nm of torque, compared to the 2.0-litre model's 114kW/190Nm. It's hooked up to a five-speed auto with paddle shifts in this model.Still lacks punch but a lot better than the 2.0. The trade off for the extra oomph is fuel economy which rises from 7.5 litres to 8.7 litres/100km. If you're looking for a little extra zing in a hurry then use the paddle shifts.We were getting 9.2 litres/100km in mixed driving. Not bad but not that good either. The 2.0-litre returned 7.7 (these are real world figures).Gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide, with CO2 emissions of 201g/km.Gets a full five stars for safety with a full complement of safety equipment. This includes six airbags, whiplash mitigation system and a reversing camera.Can't complain here. Feels more complete, a real step up in terms of comfort from the 2WD model that we drove. Quiet inside too, depending on the road surface. Power adjustment and heating for the front seats.Good vision. Smooth, more refined and composed. Leather seats feel more comfortable too, even though we're not big fans of leather. Like the dash layout, with its big easy to use controls. Toggling the audio on and off is annoying. Satnav system small and the graphics can be difficult to read (no speed camera warnings either).Hmmm. Plenty of luggage space, but it's out-pointed in other departments. Engine is old tech, only gets a five-speed auto and the audio system is nothing special.No reason we wouldn't. On the other hand some of its competitors mount a more convincing argument, including a diesel alternative.

Benz has sent the performance community into a spin with news this morning that it will bring its top of the line 430kW E63 AMG sedan to Australia, despite the fact it can't offer the car with four-wheel drive.The high performance, 5.5-litre Bi-Turbo V8 engined car will not be quite as quick off the line as the four-wheel drive, 4MATIC version in Germany, but in all other respects it will be the same - Aussie buyers won't miss out.Just like the compact GLK off-roader, which has never been offered here, the 4MATIC model is not engineered for right-hand drive countries - a decision that has probably cost Benz millions in lost sales over the past few years. You'd think they would have learned from their mistakes?Although it offers larger, four-wheel drive off-roaders like the M and GL-Class, four-wheel drive versions of its passenger cars are still a couple of years away. That's unfortunate, because in the case of the E63 AMG 4MATIC S model, four-wheel drive is required to get all that power to the ground.With a whopping 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque, it is capable of blasting from 0-100km/h in a Ferrari-like 3.6 seconds. While the rear-wheel drive version of the car that we have been promised will struggle, Benz claims it will still be good for 3.8-3.9 seconds - it hasn't been tested yet.This compares with the standard, 410kW/720Nm rear-wheel drive E63 AMG that will also be sold in Australia which does the dash in 4.2 seconds. Benz describes the new and improved version of its engine as the most efficient series production V8 engine in the world.Along with other design and technological changes to the E-Class range, it should cement the car's place as a leader in the market. A spokesman for Benz Australia says the E63 AMG is an important car to Australia, which has one of the highest up-takes of high performance AMG models in the world - at 7.6 per cent of sales.But they are not for everyone, not at a starting price of $240,000. There's no word on prices for the new model at this stage, except to say the figures will be “assertive.” This also applies the rest of the E Class range which arrives in August.Benz also confirmed this morning that the lineup will include the E300 hybrid diesel, which offers fuel consumption of an incredible 4.1 litres/100km - with no sacrifice in performance. The hybrid with diesel and electric motors produces a combined 170kW of power and 750Nm of torque and is expected to replace the both the E350 and E500 petrol models.The small volume wagon will also continue to be offered, in E250CDI and E400 petrol form, as well as an AMG. No word yet on the coupe and cabriolet which are due later in the year.The spokesman told Carsguide this morning the company was convinced the large car market was far from dead in Australia. He said people were attracted by the size of cars like the E-Class, but wanted smaller, more efficient engines - provided of course they did not have to sacrifice anything in terms of performance.He said they were also popular as they benefited from an effective $6000 discount,  because all of the four cylinder models consume less than 7.0 litres of fuel per 100km. Surprisingly, 80 per cent of E Class sales last year were four cylinder models, either petrol or diesel engines. “It's almost a case of build it and they will come,” he said.This reporter is on Twitter: @IamChrisRiley 

Some cars beg to be driven on a race track. Audi's mind bogglingly good RS4 Avant is one of them. The 331kW wagon, yes it's a wagon sounds fantastic and goes extemely well, even if it does cost an arm and a leg. But then, you can't expect something for nothing, especially something as good as this?The original built in 1994 but not sold here was powered by a 2.2-litre turbocharged five cylinder engine. It was assembled at Porsche's Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, with plenty of input from Porsche and could do the dash from 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 262km/h.It was followed in 2000 by a 2.7-litre Bi-Turbo that pumped out 279kW and was good for 4.9 seconds, with some help this time from Cosworth in the UK. Both of these earlier models were available only as a wagon. Then in 2005 the switch was made to a V8 and the decision made to diversify the model with the addition of a sedan and cabrio. The high revving naturally asipirated 4.2-litre V8  produiced 309kW of power and 430Nm of troque, revving all the way to 8000rpm, with 0-100km/h taking 4.8 seconds.The current RS4 Avant raises the bar yet again, delivering 331kW of power and 430Nm of torque in combination with a 7-speed double clutch style transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. Unlike its predecessors, which came in manual form only, this one's an auto or at least a robotised manual.A good thing too because the DSG box takes all the hard work out of the equation, allowing the driver to get on with the job of well, driving. The result is a car that is happy to handle the shopping or if required launch from 0-100km/h in a rapid fire 4.7 seconds, not as quick as the original  but still plenty of fun.It's always intimidating to get behind the wheel of one of these cars, especially in the context of a race track. Here there are no limits on how fast you can go, apart from your own ability and of course the physical limitations of the car. The car's limits are very high (not sure about our ability though).We were among the first group of drivers to take on the challenging circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park, known to most as Eastern Creek. Tentative at first, by the fourth lap we were starting to feel right at home, discovering that the RS4 is as awesome as it is forgiving.In fact, it's so well balanced that we were able to guide the car around the second left hander, a double apex corner, with the car in full slide and only one hand on the wheel. How good's that?Amazingly, the new RS4 Avant is cheaper than the old one at $149,400. The previous one which disappeared in 2008 cost $168,100, but is still sought after, changing hands for more than $100,000.Even at this price there are still plenty of options including adjustable suspension. It can be bundled with 20 inch wheels and a sports exhaust for $7200 and there are not many buyers who won't tick that box. RS4's main competitor is the Benz C63 AMG wagon which will set you back $155,900, before options.If they weren't so damn expensive. $150K is a lot of dough in anyone's language, but if you've got it  you certainly won't be disappointed. The RS4 Avant combines the practicality of a wagon, with the performance of a sports car and a reputation that will be the envy of all your mates.

I stumbled across a case this week at Daytona Beach in the United States of all places where GM was launching the brand new Chevy SS sports sedan. Nothing ironic about that, apart from the fact it's a Holden through and through and the first Chevrolet in two decades to have rear-wheel drive, something of an asset in the world of motor sport. The launch comes at a time when the future of Holden's homegrown product, the rear-wheel drive Commodore hangs in the balance. Sales continue to fall, it has been outsold by the smaller Cruze for more than a year and will most likely be replaced sooner than later by a front-wheel drive Chevrolet, built on the same production line that currently produces Commodores and badged as a Commodore. Now that's what I call ironic. We were in Daytona for the famous Daytona 500 stock car race where the new Chevy SS, the soon to be launched Commodore VF in Chevy clothing was getting ready to make its race debut. Described by GM heavyweight Mark Reuss as a four-door Corvette, the V8 powered SS represents yet another opportunity for Holden to prop up declining sales of Commodore which have plunged more than 60 per cent over the past few years. It follows in the footsteps of other Holden hopefuls, exported to the US under the defunct Pontiac badge, as well as the long wheelbase Caprice that has scored limited success, supplied in dribs and drabs as a patrol car to police forces across the country. Holden is hoping to export at least 5000 Chevrolet SSs a year, designed and built right here in Australia but powered by a 6.2-litre V8 instead of the standard Holden 6.0-litre unit. It's the same engine that powers the current Corvette hero car, which is likely to be a big drawcard for Americans. In Australia, the 6.2-litre LS3 engine is reserved for Holden's high performance, HSV line of vehicles. Where previous efforts have faltered, Reuss, who once ran the Holden franchise in Australia, believes this time they've got it right, with an SS that is a premium product based on the top of the range Calais V and priced accordingly although that price is yet to be revealed. What's all this mean for Australia? Perhaps a stay of execution for the Commodore as we know it. Holden has confirmed the name will live on, but not necessarily on the back of a car designed and built in Australia. In 2015, it is planning to introduce a new Cruze based on a new platform. Two years later, a second new "global" platform will be added but it is not saying at this stage what vehicle that will support. In the meantime, Holden has expanded its body production facilities. Some punters are suggesting that it has the capacity to continue building a rear-drive car, perhaps even a range of performance-focused vehicles alongside the new ones much the same as Nissan has been doing for some time with some of its models of late. As long as there is a demand for the car, Holden will continue to build the Commodore, Reuss says. The extra demand generated by sales of the Chevrolet SS can only help. Reuss concedes the project is a bit of an experiment, but one about which they are passionate. Almost as soon as they started work on the VF Commodore, he says they started planning the Chevrolet. Resources from both GM and Holden were poured into the project, resulting in a better car all round -- in the case of Commodore the best yet if you believe the spin doctors. A prerequisite of the plan was that the car had to have the ability to compete on the race track as a stock car, in a field dominated these days by a swarm of front-wheel drive vehicles. Reuss says it is crucial to have a car racing in front of the public that is as close to stock as possible, that Americans can go out and actually buy. The success of one could well be the saviour of the other, particularly in Australia where Holden sold just 30,000 Commodores last year 40,000 if you count exports. "I'd love to tell you this is going to run until 2020 in Australia. I'd love say that but we haven't sold one car yet," Reuss said. Chevrolet on the other hand was America's best-selling performance brand last year, with Camaro and Corvette accounting for one in three sports cars sold in the United States. The man in the street is pretty excited about the cool new Chevy -- perhaps we should be too? (Check even the cleaner at our hotel owns a bloody Camaro).  

Due for launch in June, the new VF Commodore will get seven, instead of the current six airbags, with the addition of an extra knee airbag to protect the driver's knees and lower legs in the unfortunate event of an accident.Holden sources have revealed the seventh bag is an integral part of the car's underlying architecture and as such so it will also be included in the Commodore when it arrives. In the past, other manufacturers including Holden pulled airbags out of their cars before bringing them to Australia to save costs.The Holden Barina springs to mind sold as the Sonic is in the States where it is equipped with 10 airbags - despite this it still gets five stars from ANCAP here. The extra knee bag is in addition to the usual front, side and curtain airbags, which along with electronic traction and stability control.It will give Commodore's a leg up over main competitor Falcon which is equipped with only six airbags. Other safety features listed in the sales brochure for the 2014 Chevrolet SS include forward collision alert, lane departure warning, blind spot alert and a reversing camera that warns the driver of traffic approaching from behind on either side of the car.However, it's not clear at this stage whether all or any of these features will be included in the Australian car - or at least not in the entry level Commodore. It should be borne in mind that the Chevrolet SS which is a Commodore in Chevy clothing is based on the top of the range Calais V model.GM's North America boss Mark Reuss, who once ran the Holden franchise in Australia, describes the Chevrolet as a cross between an HSV and a Commodore - more like the long wheelbase HSV Grange which he drove in Australia than any other model.Designed and marketed as a premium V8 performance sedan, it comes with the larger 6.2-litre V8 from HSV - not the standard 6.0-litre unit that powers V8 Commodores. It's also fitted with sports suspension and rides on big, 19 inch alloys and chunky 245/40 and 275/35 series rubber front and back, along with high performance Brembo brakes up front.Automatic parking is also standard on the Chevy, along with an large 8 inch touch screen computer and premium 9-speaker Bose audio. All of these features will probably be available in Australia, apart from XM Radio and GM's OnStar satellite communications system which are listed in the brochure - just don't expect them in the standard Commodore.This journalist is on Twitter: @IamChrisRiley 

Where have they been hiding this little gem? The mid-range 328i replaces the previous 325i sedan and is powered by a turbocharged four instead of a six. Not only is it cheaper than the 325 it's also more powerful and uses less fuel. What's not to like? VALUE Built-in BMW sportiness. Priced from $65,900 standard

The ST is Ford's first “global” performance car and will be sold in more than 40 countries. Built in Germany the ST is up against some stiff competition, but it's got the right pedigree and commands plenty of respect.There will be no shortage of punters lining up to get their hands on the hot hatch, a long and eagerly awaited replacement for the XR5 Turbo. Although known as the XR5 here, it was actually the ST overseas.Launched in 2006, Ford has sold almost 6000 of the cars here, priced at $35,990. The XR5's turbocharged 2.5-litre five cylinder engine was good for 166kW/320Nm and it did the dash from 0-100 in 6.8 seconds. The new one is 40kg lighter and is cheaper, faster and better equipped.Just the one model, with the one engine, one transmission and one suspension tune, priced from $38,290. Satnav is standard but it's a small display and does not provide speed camera warnings. There's no option to display the car's speed digitally either.Ford makes a big deal of the Microsoft based Sync system in this and others models. The problem is that's not fully functional in this country and really provides only Bluetooth, with audio streaming and voice control. The Sony audio system boasts nine speakers.If anything the styling is understated. The car sits 10mm lower than a standard Focus, with ST tuned sports suspension, a body kit and rear wing, LEDs, bi-xenon lights and Boxster style twin centrally mounted tailpipes.It rides on 18 inch wheels with 235/40 series Goodyear tyres, that protrude further than the rim providing some protection from gutter scrapes. Sadly, though, unlike the XR5, there's no GT stripes available at least not for the time being.Comes in a range of colours, but the standout is by far and away the hero Tangerine “Learner plate” yellow from where we're standing. The cabin has eye catching colour-coded, part leather Recaro sports seats (front and back). But the multi-layered dash is perhaps a little bit too busy and can be confusing until you become familiar with the position of the various functions.It's basically the same 2.0-litre Ecoboost turbocharged, direct injection engine from Mondeo and the Falcon, but in a different state of tune with some bits added and others replaced.The end result is an engine that kicks out 184kW of power at 5500 revs and 360Nm of torque from 2000 revs, with drive to the front wheels through a trick diff.The turbocharged four is paired with a short-shifting 6-speed manual with lockout reverse (there's no auto). The dash from 0-100km/h takes 6.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 248km/h. Fuel consumption from the 62-litre tank is 7.4 litres/100km and it takes premium unleaded.Gets a full five stars for safety, with six airbags and a host of safety features including a reversing camera.The sports hatch segment is fiercely competitive and there will be plenty of people out there comparing the figures. Suffice to say the Focus ST looks the part and is a treat to drive, with a sporty, attention-getting exhaust note. The ST sits securely on the road, with a low centre of gravity and desirable "planted" feel.It features variable ratio electric power assisted steering and torque vectoring to provide added traction in corners. There's some squirm as the front wheels scrabble for traction on takeoff, but that's only to be expected. The clutch and gear change are smooth and easy to use, but some drivers complained that the centre console snagged their elbow.The ride is thankfully not too soft, even though it is engineered for global tastes and the more you drive the car the more confidence in its grip and cornering ability grows rounding up nicely on the other side of corners. The stability system has sport and off modes and the steering weights up as the car's speed increases. Braking is strong and progressive, with 320mm front stoppers that have been upgraded.

When Holden launched the Sportwagon in 2008 it didn't include an LPG powered model. The engineers were still working out where they could put the gas storage tank whether it would mean relocating the spare wheel.Guess they ran out of options because the spare is still sitting bang smack in the middle of the boot - correction, to one side of the boot. It's disappointing but that's the price your pay for economy.Priced from $44,490, the Sportwagon LPG is a good looking bus, even in spartan Omega clothes. The Series II model includes dual zone climate control and a colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, USB input, auxiliary input, integrated iPod support and enhanced Bluetooth with phone book display, touch-screen dialling and audio streaming.Unlike the Falcon, Holden has opted for a vapour injection system which it argues is the better option. The heart of the system is the 3.6-litre V6 that has been optomised to run solely on LPG.Producing 180kW of power and 320Nm it produces slightly more power and torque than the old dual fuel system. Yet the new LPG Commodore uses 1.6 litres/100km or 13 percent  less fuel than before at a rate of 12.3 litres/100km. With an 84 litre tank it has a theoretical range of 686km but some of this gas will remain inaccessible.The standard 3.6-litre V6 produces 210kW of power and 350Nm of torque and is rated at 9.9 litres/100km. The 3.0-litre six in comparison produces 190kW and 290Nm and is good for just 9.2 litres/100km.No comparison would be complete without a reference to Ford's liquid injection system, a system it claims is superior. It's 4.0-litre six delivers 198kW of power and 409Nm of torque and uses 12.3 litres/100km (the same figure as Holden). Bear in mind however that you can no longer get a Falcon wagon.The LPG wagon is $2500 more, but private buyers of new factory-fitted LPG vehicles can apply for a $2000 Federal Government rebate. With only $500 difference in price, it means you'd have to travel only 10,000km before recouping the extra money and the system would start paying for itself.At the time of writing the price of petrol was $121.9 and LPG 57.9 cents a litre. The cost of filling the gas tank at this price would be $48.87.Okay. Not as good as the Ford and lacks the urgency of the petrol engine but the performance is acceptable. In terms of the car itself, having the window switches between the seats is annoying and the exterior mirrors are still too small. We were getting 11.7 litres/100/km after about 500km. If you're not demanding and looking for cheap, practical transport, then the LPG wagon could be the one.