Articles by Chris Riley

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars.

Subaru's fourth generation Impreza has finally arrived, but it's an evolution rather than revolution. Subaru continues to persist with its flat four boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive combo as the backbone of the car, with a heavy emphasis on safety. But we wonder whether punters are looking for something more, given the unexpected success of the pumped up XV off road version of the hatch that was launched recently. There hasn't been as much traffic through showrooms since the launch of the original Forester back in 97. Subaru sees the car as an alternative to the front-wheel drive "clones" that comprise the segment.Competitors include the Mazda3, Civic and Corolla. Market research has identified fuel economy as the prime feature for which buyers are looking and the investment in this is apparent, but at what cost?VALUEThe model designations are different this time around. R, RX and RS have been replaced with 2.0i, 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S. The 2.0i kicks off from $23,990, but the CVT will cost you another $2500.The 2.0i-L is $26,990 and the 2.0i-S which only comes with the CVT is $31.490 - all prices exclude on-road costs.DESIGNNever been a big fan of the Impreza's styling and can't say I'm overly impressed with this one either. But they say styling is a personal thing.TECHNOLOGYThird generation FB boxer engine. It's the same basic engine as in Forester, but with the addition of dual valve timing. Produces 110kW of power and 196Nm of torque, exactly the same as before. The design is different with a longer stroke and narrower bore to achieve better economy.Gets a timing chain this time around which means no more expensive timing belt services. The crusty old five speed manual and four speed automatic have been replaced with a six speed manual and six speed CVT. The big news is the arrival of the CVT in this model and the big gains in fuel economy that it brings. It's expected to account for 80 per cent of sales and is certainly a quantum leap forward from the old four-speed slush box, but not everyone cares for them because of their zoom like quality.CVTs or continuously variable transmissions are designed to find the perfect balance between power and economy in all situations. It also has a six speed manual mode and Subaru has thrown in change paddles to make the most of it.PERFORMANCELeisurely. The CVT is the pick in this department.  0-100km/h for the CVT is 10.5 secs and for the manual 11.1 secs. That's better than the previous auto, but not nearly as quick as the old five-speed manual at 9.6 and, in the broader context - not that quick at all. Although the new engine has the same output as before, maximum torque is produced at 4200 instead of 3200 revs which can't help matters.FUEL SAVINGSTakes standard unleaded. Subaru is claiming 6.8 litres/100km for the CVT and 7.1 for the six speed manual. That's a 22 per cent improvement over the previous auto and a 20 per cent improvement for the manual. That's on paper anyway because we saw nothing like this during the drive program. The CVT returned 8.2 litres/100km and the manual, 9.0 litres/100km - nothing like what it should be getting. This was however over a rather short drive route and we look forward to taking it for a longer drive.AUTO START/STOPAll models are also fitted with auto start/stop which shuts the engine down at traffic lights to save fuel and reduce pollution. Subaru says studies have shown that cars may be stopped for 30 per cent of the time, so there are big gains to be had in this area.If you don't like it, you can simply disable the function. When the engine is stopped, things like the airconditioining, navigation and audio systems run on auxiliary power. But if the system is overloaded it won't shut down.SAFETYScores a full five stars for safety, with not six but seven airbags this time around including a driver's kneebag to protect the lower legs in an accident.THE PACKAGEHas the same exterior dimensions as the previous model but sits 10mm lower, has a 20mm wider track and 25mm longer wheelbase.Body 10kg lighter, but 25 per cent stiffer. Has more room inside too, with more rear legroom, and more elbow and shoulder room.The seats are more comfortable and the ride quality is very good, apart from the occasional intrusion of tyre noise on coarse bitumen. Surfaces are soft touch. Instruments are conservatively laid out but large and generally easy to use with an updated more extensive trip computer. Sadly no digital speedo in sight and still no one touch blinkers for lane changing.DRIVINGIt's more refined that's for sure, with a lower centre of gravity and hugs the road like a thoroughbred. It's quieter inside too. But and it's a big BUT, you really have to push this car hard to get it moving, especially the manual with it's tall gearing. The result not unexpectedly is poor economy which was reflected in the figures we got. Pulling away for the first time in the manual it felt lifeless, the change could be more precise and it doesn't like to be hurried between gears. The car really doesn't start to get mobile until you have 4-5000 revs on the tacho.The CVT in comparison doesn't have to work as hard and is the pick as far as we're concerned. It also feels more responsive to the throttle. But it's noisy and muffles the sporty note of the boxer engine which  is one of the car's main attractions.WRX?That's another story and another car as it turns out. The WRX hasn't been an Impreza for the last two years, but a standalone model that will continue to evolve in an entirely different direction. The word is we won't be seeing a new Rex until at least 2014.YOU GET $2000 worth of all-wheel drive for free as part of the price for a start. The audio system has six speakers, with iPod, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. All models get Bluetooth phone connection, with steering wheel phone, audio and cruise controls, climate air, USB input and multi-function display with distance to empty. 2.0i-L adds alloys, reversing camera, premium multi-function display, dual climate, sliding centre console, some leather bits, privacy glass and fog lights.2.0i-S adds upgraded speedo, upholstery and trim, alloy pedals, chrome fog surrounds, chrome door handle inserts, wing mirror indicators, side skirts and larger alloys.YOU DON'T GETNo alloys for 2.0i, just 16inch steels with hubcaps, and no full size spare for any of them. No leather unless you buy an option pack, no mention or parking sensors and satnav costs an arm and a leg (packaged with sunroof as $3000 option).VERDICTIt's quieter, more refined, roomier inside and better equipped than ever before and all for the same price. And Subaru has managed to pull off the impossible by making its boxer, all-wheel drive mainstay the class leader in fuel economy with a Green Guide rating that's almost as good as a Prius. Who said it couldn't be done? But it's not enough to be fuel efficient. It needs to be fun to drive too and sadly it falls dangerously short of this mark. 

Ford's cute compact four-wheel drive Kuga finally goes on sale here next month. We've been asking about this car for years, ever since laying eyes on it for the first time in Europe.

Just as I finished signing the press car loan agreement for the California, the pen ran out. I hoped it wasn't a bad omen of some kind.We've driven plenty of fast and expensive cars before (the two don't necessarily go hand in hand) but there's just something different about a Ferrari.It was raining outside and showed no signs of letting up as the weekend was about to unfold.Just my luck. But the weather didn't dampen the reaction everywhere I took the car, as you can see below.THE OFFICENot even the boss has one of these beauties.  As soon as it became known there was a Ferrari in the carpark the word went around. Then the questions started followed soon afterwards by the inevitable: "Can you take me for a ride?"CO-WORKER (female)What is it you like about Ferraris? "The sound of the engine and the fact that everyone looks at you."MCDONALDS"Gee. Nice car mate. How's it go?" Pause. "Sorry. What sort of coffee was that again?" "Black. Short black (what else?)"THE CLUBWe've always been intrigued by the way you see these cars parked right where you can see them at big hotels and other public places. Maybe it works differently in the Eastern Suburbs, but there were no special privileges in the offing a large Sydney football club in Sydney's west.THE WIFEShe's over it. She's been over it for years, what with the never ending stream of cars that I bring home. "But it's a Ferrari darl?" "So . . ."FRIENDSYou suddenly find you have lots of them (lots of female interest too).OUT AND ABOUTEveryone looks. It's hard not to. There's cars and then there's Ferraris. Even at idle, the note from the exhaust (there's four of them, count them) is loud enough and strident enough to cut through the Friday afternoon throng.SHOPPING?No way. You wouldn't even contemplate taking a car like this into a shopping centre carpark, let alone leaving it unattended. Beside's there's probably something about it in the agreement?WHAT'S IT GO LIKE?Who cares. I want one anyway. It's not the first time I've driven a California, but it's the first time I've got to take one home and that please God is where I'd like it to stay. With it's retractable metal roof and rear seat, it's a Ferrari for all occasions. But you'd be hard pressed to fit anyone with legs in those tiny back seats.HOW FAST?The 4.3-litre direct injection V8 pumps out 338kW of power and revs to an amazing 8000rpm. The noise from the vertically stacked quad tailpipes is sensational. With paddle shifts and a 7-speed robotised gearbox, you can rip through the gears incredibly fast.It puts away the dash from 0-100km/h in less than four seconds and has a top speed of 310km/h.THE PRICE?At $459,000 (plus on-roads) it's the one sticking point. It's way beyond the reach of most people, but I guess that's what makes it so special and to some extent the people that can afford to buy them too.FERRARI CALIFORNIAPrice: from $459,000Body: four-seat convertibleSafety: front-side airbags, anti-skid brakes, ESP stability control, pop-up rollover barEconomy: 13.1L/100kmEmissions: 305.6gm/100kmEngine: 4.3-litre V8Output: 338kW/7750revs, 485Nm/5000 revsTransmission: seven-speed dual-clutch manual, rear-wheel drivePerformance: 0-100km/h, less than 4 seconds; top speed 310km/h

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?What is it?One of the most underrated cars on the road. The Superb wagon is a large practical car, with super fuel economy.How much? Prices for the wagon start at $40,990. Our 4x4 version is $43,990. Not sure you need it but it's still a good deal?What are competitors? Commodore wagon. Diesel Mondeo or Peugeot 508 wagons. Hyundai also makes a diesel i40 wagon now. Mazda6 is available as a diesel as is the Volkswagen Passat  but the latter four are all smaller. What's under the bonnet? Volkswagen's sterling 2.0-litre TDI turbodiesel. Puts out 103kW of power and 320Nm of torque from a low 1750 revs.How does it go? Very well, but the drivetrain is not as smooth as it might be. Gets the 6-speed DSG box instead of the newer 7-speed box due to the higher torque output of the engine. That's a shame because it's not as smooth or well behaved.Is it economical?This is the one area in which the Superb really excels. Fuel economy is a claimed 6.4 litres/100km and this is achievable in real world driving. We were getting 6.2. Is it green?Gets 3.5 stars out of five from the Green Vehicle Guide. The benchmark hybrid Prius sets the pace with 5 stars. Is it safe?Superb gets a full five stars for crash safety. Comes with all the latest technical aids including 9 airbags and electronic stabilitycontrol.Is it comfortable?Roomy with a huge boot and plenty of room in the back seat. Rides and cruises easily and is a great long distance tourer, with the added safety of all-wheel drive.What's it like to drive?Easy to drive but the engine lugs a lot thanks to the transmission. The result is some shuddering and odd noises. The up side of this is excellent fuel economy.Is it value for money?Dual-zone climate, multi-function trip computer, Bluetooth, AUX socket, cruise control, light assistant, front foglights with corner function, rear parking sensors with acoustic warning and optical display, chrome interior trim and a leather package for the four-spoke multi-function steering wheel, gearshift lever and handbrake grip. The wagon also gets the Park Assist parallel parking system which includes front parking sensors. Would we buy one?Yes. Looks better than the sedan. The wagon is a very practical, well equipped alternative to some of the more traditional offerings in our market.

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? The cheaper two wheel drive version of Mitsubishi's Challenger wagon. If you think it looks like the Triton ute you're right because its based on the Triton.More than it should be. The auto will set you back $39,490 which buys you a lot of other things including a big chunk of Holden Captiva.Captiva, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe to name a few around the same price. 2.5-litre turbo diesel delivers a good mix of power and economy, with 131kW of power at 4000 revs and and 350Nm of torque at 1800 revs. The diesel in our test vehicle was mated to a five-speed auto with the facility to change gears manually. A five-speed manual is also available for $2500 less. Suprisingly well. Didn't both with the manual change, just left it in D which works fine. The large change paddles are also superfluous. Clips along at a good rate of knots and is reasonable quick off the line.The auto is rated at 9.6 litres/100km. We had trouble keeping track of the consumption because of the confusing trip computer. But after 1800km we believe it was returning 8.4 litres/100k which is quite good for a vehicle this size. Gets 2.5 stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide, with CO2 emissions of 215g/km. Prius sets the benchmark with five stars. Good question. Two airbags are standard. If you take up the Safety pack for $1050 you get side and curtain airbags. You can get a reversing camera to go with them with the Convenience pack which retails for $3640 and is availabel with the auto only. With either of these options it gets four out of five stars for safety.Not very. Not if you find yourself in the back seat. The seat is narrow with a straight back and short squab, like something you'd find in a dual cab ute which of course is what it basically is. No complaints. The tall narrow stance means you can't go screaming into corners. The lack of all wheel drive is not an issue as far as we're concerned.The big plus is the large boot. In five seat form there's plenty of room back there for all your holiday needs. Convenience Pack also adds Bluetooth, climate air, 17-inch alloys, fog lamps, auto lights and wipers and roof rails as well as a leather steering wheel with audio controls, privacy glass and six speaker sound system.Depends. Has more boot space than any of its competitors if that is important. The kids probably won't complain about the back seat but your conscious might. Then there's the safety rating which is not as good as the others.

When Volkswagen launched the first GTI back in 1976, they were planning on building 5000 of them. The rest is history. The GTI has become the most successful sports models in automotive history and will soon notch up 2 million sales world wide. To mark its 35th anniversary, VW is offering a very limited Edition 35 model with more power and extra goodies for another 3 grand - and it's a cracker!ENGINEThe 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged engine is shared by the GTI and all wheel drive Golf R. But it's a detuned version of the R's engine, rather than a hopped up GTi one (what's the difference?) It runs the same compression ratio but the boost has been turned down on the turbocharger.Compared to the standard GTI power is up 18kW from 155 to 173kW, not quite as much as the R's 188kW but a significant increase. Torque has also been increased, up 20Nm from 280 to 300Nm _ not as much as the R's 330Nm.The engine also takes on the higher revving characteristics of the R, with maximum power delivered at 6000 revs and maximum torque at 2400 revs.PERFORMANCERemember the GTI Pirelli? Well this one's even better with 173 versus 169kW, but it does the dash in the same 6.6 seconds. Golf has moved on a generation since then and there's no doubting this is a much better car. It feels tighter and smoother with better grip and handling.Power is fed to the front wheels through the GTI's trick XDL diff, with 0-100km/h taking 6.6 seconds for both the manual and DSG. That's 0.3 seconds quicker than a standard GTI, but still short of the R's 5.9/5.7 secs for the manual/DSG.THE CHOICEThe Edition 35 comes in five doors only, in a choice of colours and with a choice of six speed manual or six-speed DSG transmissions, the latter for an extra $2500. It's priced from $43,490. That's $3000 more than a standard GTI but $6500 less than the R).OUTSIDEUnderstated. In a word. The only visible badging is the number 35 on ahead of the door on either side. GTI watchers will however note the deeper front air dam, with bi-xenon lights and dynamic cornering and LED daytime runners. The exterior mirrors are also finished in gloss black and the side sill extensions match the body colour. All Edition 35s are also equipped with smoked LED rear lights, LED-illuminated license plate and smoked rear windows.INSIDEThere's a classic golf ball look/feel gear shift, special scuff plates with the Edition 35 logo, seat belts with red stripes and a 35 integrated in the front head rests. The logo also appears on the backs of the seats and all decorative seams are red.HOW'S IT GO?Spectacularly. Very strong acceleration, especially in the mid range. But what we really like about these cars is their practicality. You can pedal them around like a shopping trolley most of the time and they don't feel any different to a standard Golf. But put your foot down and the differences becomes immediately apparent. The other big plus about the GTI is the fuel economy. This thing can still returns 8.3/8.2 litres/100km in manual/DSG form if you don't push it hard.VERDICTThe Golf GTI is the perfect balance of sport and practicality and the Edition 35 model is just better again. Better get one before they run out?VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI EDITION 35Price: about $45,000Body: 5-door, 5-seater hatchEngine: 173kW/300Nm, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrolTransmission: 6-speed manual or DSGSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, 5-star crash ratingWeight: 1400kgEconomy: 8.1L/100km (manual), 8L/100km (DSG)CO2: 189g/km (man), 185g/km (DSG).

The old one was a bit average. But there's no missing the big effort that Mercedes-Benz has put into its new B-Class runaround.Who knows maybe Benz may finally acknowledge the car as a real part of the range instead of pretending it doesn't exist?There's also going to be an off road SUV version that will reside on the same mechanical platform.The new B-Class is going to be offered for a red hot entry price when it hits the showrooms in April - $38,950 - less than the old one. We had a quick look at the new B-Class this week.Apart from the agressive new styling, huge strides have been made with the interior which looks more like the luxury vehicle that it is supposted to be. A big effort has been made to make the car look more sporty, which is reflected in the reduced height.At 1557mm it sits almost five centimetres lower on the road than its predecessor. The seat height in relation to the road has also been reduced in order to facilitate ease of entry.In response to requests the sitting position is also more upright. The dash is dominated by chunky aircraft style air vents, a la the halo SLS sportscar.The range kicks off with the B 180 Blue Efficiency with a 90kW petrol engine, followed by the B200 Blue Efficiency with 115kW petrol engine then the range topping B 200 CDI Blue Effiency with a 100kW turbodiesel engine.The two 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged petrol engines are good for 6.1 litres/100km while the diesel is rated at 4.7 litres/100km. New to the range is Benz's Pre-Safe system which locks the vehicle down if a collision is imminent as well as Collision prevention assist.The latter is a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive Brake Assist which lowers the risk of rear-end collisions. There's also a 7 speed dual clutch DCT transmission, Eco start/stop which shuts down the engine at traffic lights and an electric parking brake.The car will also be available with a multimedia system that offers internet access. Customers can surf the web while the car is stationary or call up an app whose particularly fast page loading and simple operation make it suitable for use while driving.Integrated apps include Google Local Search and Weather, and the facility for downloading a route which has previously been configured on a PC using Google Maps and transmitted to the car.The current B-Class is a hugely practical little car, offering surprising comfort for four adults and the new one is sure to build on this base.

Bingo! It's been a long hard slog but Skoda could finally have a winner on its hands. The compact off road segment is where it's happening and the Volkswagen off-shoot has come up with a little beauty in the form of the Yeti. Yeti (love that name) not only looks good, it goes well and is priced well too, which is half the battle.POWERThis one is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. You can also get a 2.0-litre turbo diesel but it's considerably more expensive  and all wheel drive too. The turbocharged 1.2-litre TSI engine develops 77kW of power and 175Nm of torque. It's available with a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed DSG transmission, with drive through the front wheels.ECONOMYCombined fuel consumption is a claimed 6.6 litres/100km for the manual or 7.0 litres/100km for the DSG, a twin clutch box that functions like an auto. We were getting 8.3 according to the trip computer.OFF ROADBeing the two-wheel drive version we wouldn't be planning any major off road excursions. But with short front and rear overhangs and 180mm of ground clearance it will make short work of dirt roads.HOW'S IT GO?High seating position with plenty of vision. Nice to see a large digital speedo can be displayed. Surprisingly nippy for such a small engine. We really need to start thinking in terms of power and torque instead of outright capacity.HOW MUCH?Prices start from $26,290 plus on-roads. The DSG transmission which we heartily recommend adds an extra $2300. It's a lot for the auto but the engine really shines under its stewardship, with seven cogs to spread the load.SAFETYGets a full five starts for safety in crash tests. Seven airbags are standard including a driver's knee bag to protect your lower legs in an accident. It's also fitted with all the latest electronic driver aids to help prevent an accident including electronic stability control.WADDAYAGET?All the usuals including aircon, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, remote central locking,  16 inch alloys and a full size steel spare. The steering wheel is height and reach-adjustable, with phone and audio controls. Bluetooth is standard along with an eight-speaker audio system is standard with an AUX input.The flexible three rear seats can be adjusted independently or removed completely. The two outside seats move backwards and forwards, the centre seat folds down to form an arm rest or can be removed all together allowing the two outside seats to be pushed together.VERDICTWe like it. We like it a lot. Easy to drive, easy to get in and out of. Reminds us a lot of the original Forester. Nice and safe in the event of an accident too. Boot is not huge but that's the price you pay for a full size spare.

The Fabia represents Skoda's first foray into small hatchback territory. For those who don't know, Skoda is one of Volkswagen's offshoots and offers much the same technology but in a more affordable package. It has a long racing history in Europe where Skoda is viewed as a very sporty brand. Priced from $18,990, the Fabia is a rather tall, boxy design that sits on the same platform as VW's better-looking Polo with which it shares the same 1.2-litre engine.TECHNOLOGY At the moment you can only get a 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged engine that produces 77kW of power. It may sound small but the 1.2-litre engine uses direct injection and turbocharging to deliver a surpringly smooth powerful driving experience. Peak power is reached at 5000 revs and maximum torque of 175Nm is available between 1500 and 4100 revs. The Fabia is fitted as standard with a five-speed fully synchronised manual transmission. An arrow on the dashboard prompts the driver to change up a gear in order to save fuel.VALUE Nothing of any special note. Bluetooth is standard and it comes with steering wheel phone and audio controls, but you only get an AUX socket for your iPod.Multi function display provides a nice, big digital speedo among other features. All the usual stuff like airconditioning, power windows and mirrors and an eight speaker sound system.Cruise control is also standard. For the environmentally aware it's also very green, scoring 4.5 out of 5 stars from the Green Guide (Prius scores five).DRIVING The trick is not to get caught with your revs down, especially coming off a corner. Below about 2500 revs there's not much oomph, not until the boost from the turbo kicks in when the thing takes off. Because it's a manual this translates to changing gears and changing gears often.Claimed fuel consumption is 5.5 litres/100km but we were getting 8.1/100km (bit of a difference eh?) The ride is quite soft for a European car, but not bouncy soft which is a good thing when it comes to our roads.SAFETY Not as safe as we had anticipated. It's fitted with six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and all the rest of the stuff that makes cars safe to drive. But Fabia still manages to get only four out of five stars for safety in crash testing. This could be a deal breaker for some buyers, with plenty of five star cars around.WHAT ABOUT THE POLO? The five-door Polo 1.2 TSI Comfortline costs another $860. From what we can see there's not much difference, apart from the fact Fabia is built on the "old" platform.Polo looks better, gets alloy wheels and a full five stars for safety. I'd say that more than justifies the extra outlay. Skoda really needs to drop the price if it hopes to attract many customers.