Articles by Craig Duff

At first glance BMW’s yet-to-launch luxury flagship is about as relevant to the average CarsGuide reader as haute couture.Yet just as bespoke fashion finds its way into mainstream outlets, so will the technology infused in the big limousine filter down to more affordable models.And the sheer number and extent of the computer-controlled systems is staggering. In a segment where owners now expect to awe their audiences with more than a serene ride, it’s a case of innovate or be irrelevant.BMW’s 7 Series product guru Sven Arens says the 7-Series combines futuristic functions with craftsmanship and materials borrowed from Rolls-Royce, which BMW owns.CarsGuide looks at some of the key features found in the sixth-generation 7 Series.Gesture control: BMW is the first carmaker to fit a production model with gesture controls based on specific movements. A camera monitors an area in the centre of the dash and finger swirls can raise or lower the volume of the 16-speaker Bowers and Remote parking: Operated using the display key with an integrated screen, the idea is the occupants can exit the vehicle before it drives in or out of a tight parking space.Carbon core: Adopted from the i Series vehicles, the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic has helped trim 120kg from the 7 Series. Arens says bonding car components is better than welding because the weld softens the metal around the joint.Wireless connectivity: The 7 Series can now wirelessly charge smartphones using an inductive pad while Bluetooth pairing uses near-field communication — the same tech used with “pay wave” credit card purchases.Removable tablet: Rear-seat passengers can use a seven-inch tablet to control everything from the aircon to the seats. The Android-powered device can be taken out of the car to load up a movie and various apps can be installed.Occupant wellness: The big BMW can emit occasional bursts of scent, the seats incorporate a vitality program that extends the massage function and “allows rear passengers to engage in active physical exercise for recuperation purposes”. The The cars will launch in Australia late this year in 730d, 740i and 740Li models, with the top-spec 750i/Li due early next year. Pricing has yet to be set but the current model starts at $206,200 for the 730d.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG S, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Peugeot 308 Touring wagon with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Mercedes-AMG GT S with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The high-end bikes and part-owner's AMG performance vehicles will share space on showroom floors in Australia.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Citroen C4 hatch with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Sporting makes do dual-purpose hatches - daily drivers that can be unleashed on a track - in divergent ways, says Craig Duff.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Audi R8 at its international launch in Portugal.

Fuel efficiency is tricky tech that comes at a cost - either a huge premium or diminished dynamcis. Craig Duff takes charge.

The unusual strategy, which effectively means the price of the cheapest Focus increases by $3100, signals a deliberate move away from fleet sales.In place of four variants with three engines the revised range adopts a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and the entry price rises to $23,390 for the Trend hatch with a six-speed manual.Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald says the decision to drop the entry Ambiente is based on the buying habits of existing Focus customers, most of whom are looking for vehicles with extra features."Essentially the Ambiente represented about 12 per cent of the share of total Focus sales (YTD 2015). The Trend is the overwhelmingly preferred model (about 60 per cent of Focus is Trend)," McDonald says."So by reprofiling the line-up and adding more features, there's a better opportunity for Focus customers, who want more features in their cars."The turbocharged EcoBoost engine is a pearler and its outputs of 132kW/240Nm are 7kW/38Nm up on the 2.0-litre engine it replaces. The previous 1.6-litre engine — used to power the Ambiente — has also been dropped, as has the 2.0-litre turbo diesel."We only had a less than 3 per cent take-up for the TDCi (diesel) engine and with the fuel efficiency being delivered by our EcoBoost technology, customers are getting performance and a broad spread of torque from low in the rev range," McDonald says.The price of the Focus Trend hatch is $1100 up on the outgoing car but the updated model adds Ford's Sync2 infotainment software, satellite navigation and a reversing camera. Opting for a six-speed auto costs another $1000.The most expensive Focus is now the Titanium hatch or sedan with a six-speed auto for $32,690.The price includes an updated version of Ford's Active City Stop automatic emergency braking that operates at up to 50km/h. It also gets blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.Fuel consumption is 5.8L/100km for the manual versions, rising to 6.2L/100km for the automatics and topping out at 6.4L/100km on the Titanium.All models have updated suspension and retuned steering to improve feel. The exterior changes are minor but the button-blinged centre console has been replaced with an eight-inch touchscreen and accompanying decluttered look.The Focus also includes the MyKey control system, where the second car key can be programmed for inexperienced drivers. It limits the speed, controls the volume of the sound system and stops safety systems such as stability control from being disabled.The upgraded Focus range goes on sale in October and Ford will be hoping the revised positioning helps reverse a slump that has seen sales of its small car drop by almost 54 per cent to date this year.