Articles by Craig Duff

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Ford Focus ST with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The personalisation packs in this week's midlife makeover now provide contrasting colours for everything from the wheel trims to the speaker surrounds.It is a Mini-esque approach to tailoring the look of the already outrageous vehicle and one that should be a popular — and profitable — addition to the accessories list.The nose gets Nissan's "V-motion" grille and a stronger, reshaped lower bumper/air intake. The side mirrors carry the indicator repeaters. Front-drive versions get 40 per cent more boot space, at 354L.Prices start at $23,490 for the ST with a new 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo (85kW/190Nm) hooked to a six-speed manual.So there's more bling but no more balanceAdd $1000 for the CVT version, which uses a 1.6-litre rather than the smaller turbo — obviously a pricing strategy given the bigger engine has 32Nm less torque arriving higher up the rev range. Still, you can't have everything.Ti-S models have a 1.6-litre turbo (140kW/240Nm) from $29,790 for the manual. The CVT-equipped variant adds torque-vectoring and all-wheel drive for $33,490.The top-spec duo also gain a 5.8-inch infotainment screen with satnav, digital radio, reversing camera and 360-degree view monitor.So there's more bling but no more balance. The Juke's biggest criticism — a bobbling ride over decent bitumen — is still evident even at low speeds.The Juke remains a carnival ride: garish and fun but not practical enough as a daily driver. Plenty of buyers will pick unconventional looks over ride quality — we'd steer for the likes of a Renault Captur or Skoda Yeti without having to make the compromise.

New look may not not be enough to save this mid-size offroader from an onslaught by more modern rivalsNo one wins by a nose in the car game but a facelift for Mitsubishi's Outlander should give it a bigger stake in the mid-sized SUV market.The makeover to the car that launched in 2012 extends from a much-improved front end to better quality interior fabrics and improved sound deadening, while retaining the build quality and reliability that have helped keep the vehicle on shopping lists despite a slew of recent arrivals.Those new rivals have largely focused on on-road ability, giving the Outlander a point of difference as a car still capable of running in the roughThe drivetrains are essentially unchanged and that isn't a bad thing. The 2.0-litre petrol is restricted to front-wheel drive applications but is on a par with its key rivals in outputs and undercuts most in terms of fuel use. It is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox in the entry level LS, priced from $28,490 (up from $27,740) but can also be had with a continuously variable transmission in LS spec for another $2000The 2.4-litre petrol engine powers the all-wheel drive variants and is exclusively mated to a CVT.Prices start at $33,490 for the LS, step up to $36,490 for the seven-seat XLS and wind out at $43,490 for the Exceed.The Outlander is undeniably a more attractive vehicle with its new "design shield" front stylingThe 2.2-litre turbodiesel uses a six-speed auto to transmit power to all wheels, and is a match for all but the Mazda CX-5's diesel in performance. Prices begin at $39,490To put that into context, the Mazda kicks off at $27,190 and goes to $50,610 and the Nissan X-Trail — the only other mid-sized SUV to have seven seats — costs $27,990-$46,580.All new Outlanders ride on 18-inch alloys, pick up LED daytime running lights and tail lamps and boast silver roof rails.The Outlander is undeniably a more attractive vehicle with its new "design shield" front styling and up updated posterior. A chrome strip flowing from the leading edge of the headlamps to the fog lights brings some cohesion to the front, backed by the revised twin-strip grille.The most obvious change inside is a new steering wheel.The higher quality interior materials are only skin deep on the door armrests, which feel like they have the flimsiest sliver of foam under the cloth/leatherette trim.The criticisms of the existing Outlander have been ameliorated rather than addressed in the midlife makeover.The "play" in the steering wheel (how much it moves before the wheels start to turn) isn't an issue in a car that will spend a lot of its time doing school runs, and therefore requires regular over-the-shoulder glances to keep the kids in line. No one wants to veer into the adjacent lane while doing that, so it makes perfect sense. The steering is still too light for mine but it now loads up more consistently as the wheel is turned.The suspension is better than before but still not up with the bestLikewise the noise from the wheels on coarse road surfaces has been eased, not eliminated. The overall quietness of the Outlander's more insulated cabin probably makes this a subjective observation and we'll reserve final judgement until we've had the car for a week-long test drive.The suspension is better than before but still not up with the best. It continues to be abrupt on small sharp-edged bumps, like Sydney's concrete edges, yet the car wallows over larger obstacles — speed humps — and feels front heavy, though it is an improvement over its predecessor.That trade-off may well be down to the fact the Outlander is capable of going off-road, where softer springs help keep the car settled on rutted tracks.The class-leading Mazda CX-5 makes no such concessions — Mazda obviously doesn't expect the majority of its mid-sized SUVs to see much beyond a graded gravel track and has sprung it accordingly.Still, for those who genuinely want a utility vehicle, as distinct from a softroader, the Outlander remains one of the few options. That versatility is enhanced by the optional 7-seat configuration (space limits the third-row to occasional use), giving parents the ability to pick up a small tribe of kids should the occasion demand.Reinforced suspension mounts and the resultant reduction in body roll means those kids are also now less likely to develop carsickness.The peoplemover potential, its ability to handle moderate off-road work and its hybrid variant means the Outlander aligns more closely with the Nissan X-Trail than the CX-5.

The versatile Discovery Sport typifies the brand's resurgence and, off-road, leaves the German rivals behindThe latest Land Rover is a discovery process for the brand and for buyers.The Discovery Sport is aimed at everything from top-end Subarus to BMWs, with a package that fits more in to the compact SUV than its rivals can match.That breadth of capability extends from its off-road ability to its seven-seat option and highlights the rapid improvements to the Land Rover line-up since it reinvented itself with the launch of the Range Rover Evoque.The Disco Sport is based on the Evoque platform but trades the Range Rover's fashion-led features for versatility.That will have Audi Q5, BMW X3 and top-end Asian SUV makers double-checking their features and honing prices in advance of the Disco sport's showroom touchdown in May.To enjoy a sporty drive, add $3470 to the list price of the Disco Sport.The active driveline that uses on-demand AWD and includes the very competent torque vectoring is a $1620 option; adaptive dynamics, which uses metal particles in the damper fluid to help keep the car flat through the corners and includes a "dynamic" drive mode is $1850.These are reserved for the high-output diesel and petrol engines.The vast majority of buyers will part with another $2500 for the nine-speed automatic. The auto is standard only on the $59,000 petrol model and that is sold only in Australia in base SE guise.It is the performance pick of the range, easily eclipsing its diesel stablemates in terms of sprint times.Not many will go for it — the take-up on the petrol is expected to be only slightly higher than those who want to shift gears for themselves.As Jaguar Land Rover spokesman Tim Krieger notes, "this is a diesel segment".Other options include a pair of third row seats at $1990 (air vents for those seats add another $1150), blind spot and reverse traffic monitor at $1150, metallic paint at $1300 — or if you must, "premium metallic" paint at $2600.The range starts at $53,300 for a manual TD4 turbo diesel. Stepping up to HSE trim level costs $57,900. Opt for the higher-output SD4 diesel and the price is $56,500 in base guise, HSE is $61,100 and ,top-spec HSE Luxury starts at $66,500.SE versions are fitted with a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, leather upholstery, lane-departure warning, powered front seats, an eight-inch touchscreen with SD card satnav and the four-mode "Terrain Response" software that adapts steering, gearshifts, throttle response, the centre diff and braking.The HSE adds xenon headlamps, front parking sensors, 19-inch wheels, air-quality sensing climate control and ups the number and quality of the speakers.The SD4 HSE Luxury has higher-quality leather, Meridian 16-speaker audio with CD/DVD tray and digital audio and nine-spoke 19-inchers.First impressions: the Discovery Sport has more initial body roll than an X3 and whether in petrol or diesel is no match for the BMW rivals in a straight line.Then we hit the gravel and that tarmac tilt is forgiven and forgotten as the Land Rover serenely powers over corrugations that would have the BMW's occupants airborne.It is an extraordinarily capable backblocks blasterIt is an extraordinarily capable backblocks blaster and can confidently be driven at highway speeds on horrendous surfaces. The torque-vectoring can be felt helping the compact SUV to tighten its line around corners and the stability control unobtrusively kicks in when required. The electric power steering is direct and well-weighted and conveys reassuring feedback.Most buyers won't do more than travel down a well-graded gravel road but they won't miss out on a refined ride. Noise suppression is good and the nine-speed auto is slick heading up or down the cogs — using the paddle-shifters for manual changes isn't as convincing, with a moment of lag on shifts.And the nine cogs are effectively eight on road.Interior space is good in any seatFirst gear is reserved for low-speed off-road manoeuvring and, in combination with the hill descent control, will restrain the vehicle's pace down steep inclines. It works without fuss and can be overridden by using the accelerator if needed.Interior space is good in any seat, with the sliding rear pews ensuring plenty of legroom for 180cm travellers. Opt for the third row and there's room — just — to accommodate adults, providing the second row is fully forward. They're best left to smaller kids on longer journeys.Some of the interior plastics, such as the panels along the top of the doors and down the side of the centre tunnel, don't feel premium but there are soft-touch surfaces on the dash top and door armrests.One quirk of the model range is the fact the range-topping HSE Luxury makes do with the last generation infotainment set-up because the new version isn't yet compatible with the Meridian audio. It'll be fixed for the next model year but for now it's a case of second best for the best vehicle.

Benz luxury concept takes us 15 years into the future.

At the New York motor show, it revealed the STI Performance Concept, a lightweight, race-focused car with a 2.0-litre turbo boxer "Super GT" engine developing 257kW/441Nm — more than the current WRX STI.Expect a lengthy lag before the turbo finds its way into a roadgoing version. The Super GT engine will be used in Japanese races to assess its durability before any decision is made on a production variant.Even in a detuned "street" guise, power would be massively up on the 147kW/205Nm naturally aspirated engine in the road cars and would address one of the few shortcomings of the 2012 CarsGuide Car of the Year winner: the chassis is capable of handling more power.I don't want you to think that this is coming tomorrow because it's notSubaru America CEO Thomas Doll says the concept is a mobile testbed to gauge the feasibility of a forced-induction BRZ production car but warns it will happen later rather than sooner."That's the idea," he says. "We can't tell you exactly when that's going to happen but the concept (is a pointer) to achieving extra horsepower. We know that's one of the issues and that's part of our plan."We are still evaluating how to do all of that. I don't want you to think that this is coming tomorrow because it's not. It could, but we have to do some other engineering and testing," he said.How much can we do that doesn't affect balance, that doesn't affect feel?Subaru America spokesman Michael McHale intervened as journalists started to quiz STI president Yoshio Hirawaka on timing of a turbo BRZ."The BRZ has a very tight, compact engine bay," McHale says, "so how much can we do that doesn't affect balance, that doesn't affect feel? This is Mr Hirakawa's challenge in life."He hears that some people would like more power but ... if we listened to everyone in the world we go bankrupt in 10 minutes."The STI concept was built to promote Subaru's performance division as a stand-alone division responsible for developing performance models, aftermarket accessories and motorsport.Subaru in the US markets itself as a family oriented, safety conscious brand and, according to US journalists, is looking to distance itself from the performance models that don't fit into that ethos.The concept car has a reinforced chassis to improve rigidity, race suspension, upgraded brakes and a massive front spoiler and rear diffuser.Inside there are race-style bucket seats, track-oriented telemetry with G-force monitor and lap-logging capabilities and a steering wheel with LED gearshift indicators built into the rim.

If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. The adage explains why car makers like to launch their latest and greatest at the annual New York motor show. Many of the cars unveiled there won't make it here in the near future, if at all. CarsGuide casts an eye over the models that will.The Chevy Spark arrives wearing a Holden badge in early 2016.The company has addressed criticisms of the previous model by upgrading the fabrics, improving the fit and finish and stiffening the chassis to improve roadholding.The new Spark's looks have been streamlined with a longer wheelbase and lower body and there's a new more powerful 1.4-litre engine.Holden vehicle performance director Ian Butler says local engineers will give the car a local suspension and steering tune. "We made sure the car remains fun and agile but will now deliver even more sophistication," Butler says.The Civic coupe concept previews the 10th generation small car that will reach showrooms late this year.Designed by Honda's US studio along with the sedan — Europe will shape the hatchback — the Civic uses shorter overhangs and sharper lines to differentiate itself from the unloved previous model.The new model will have a 1.5-litre turbo engine matched to a six-speed auto or continuously variable transmission.Honda Australia head Steve Collins says the Civic is a crucial model. "Because it is a global car, ours will share some of the styling characteristics with the car just launched in New York and it will also have design features specific to our region."More interior space and more upmarket interiors mark the new Optima.A big hit in the US — Kia sold 160,000 last year — the Optima hasn't enjoyed such success locally.Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says the new car is a more refined package, headlined by a 2.0-litre turbo engine that pushes the car to 100km/h in just on seven seconds. "(It has) improved ride, more rear space and an engine that will be a class benchmark for power and economy," Hepworth says.Top-spec US models use a 360 degree camera, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot alert. The car is due in Australia late this year.The 570S is aimed squarely at the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8 V10. Essentially a detuned version of the 650S supercar, the 570S nevertheless shares no panels with its big brother.The 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 is retained, although outputs have been reduced to 420kW/600Nm. That's good for a 100km/h sprint time of 3.2 seconds.Its Australian launch is early 2016 — expect a price in the high $300,000s.The facelifted Outlander's most obvious change is the "dynamic shield" front end, to be worn by future Mitsubishis.Mitsubishi Motors Australia marketing head Tony Principe says the update includes revisions to the Outlander's suspension, steering and drivetrain."Outlander will continue to offer great SUV functionality, terrific fuel economy and low running costs," he says, "but it will now be significantly quieter, more responsive and even more enjoyable to drive, making it a real stand out in the medium SUV class."The Outlander is launched locally next week.The massive Lexus spindle grille and flared fenders make the new RX hard to miss. The SUV also gets a 50mm increase in wheelbase to differentiate it from its NX stablemate, but the extra length doesn't include an anticipated third row of seats.The vehicle will be sold with both a 3.5-litre V6 and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, each good for 221kW.The RX will have head-up display, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, heated rear seats, and optional 11.6-inch rear entertainment screens. Optional safety gear includes lane departure and blind spot warning, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.Built on the same aluminium-intensive architecture that underpins the XE and F-Type models, the XF is up to 190kg lighter than the current model.Interior upgrades are just as impressive, from head-up display to 10.2-inch infotainment setup using a quad-core Intel processor and ethernet connectivity for super-quick response. Touch and voice control abet smartphone-style apps for everything from remotely warming the car to calculating owners' arrival time at a destination.A new 2.0-litre turbo diesel will be the entry point while its supercharged petrol V6 puts out 280kW. Prices are expected to start below $80,000 when the XF arrives here early next year.The Boxster Spyder is all about driving purity, so owners will have to operate the fabric roof by hand. Based on the design and mechanicals of the Cayman GT4, this is the most powerful Boxster yet — its 276kW 3.8-litre boxer six-cylinder is lifted from the 911 Carrera and matched to a six-speed manual transmission. Porsche quotes 4.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and fuel use of 9.9L/100km.The Spyder will arrive here in the third quarter, priced from $169,000.

It's low-fat cream, with the mid-size sedan shedding up to 190kg relative to its predecessor thanks to modular "aluminium-intensive" architecture that also underpins the recent XE compact sedan and F-Type sports car. The diet has led to big gains in performance and fuel economy from the four engines in the range.The 2.0-litre "Ingenium" base turbo diesel replaces the 2.2-litre oilburner in the current car. Outputs are down slightly but the sprint to 100km/h has been cut by a second and fuel use is down 0.9L/100km.It's a similar story for the 2.0 turbo , 3.0 supercharged V6 in two states of tune and 3.0 turbo diesel.The XE gives us a ‘conquest car' to pitch to younger buyersThe entry diesel will be the only XF with a six-speed manual transmission; all other engines are exclusively paired with an eight-speed automatic. The supercharged V6 will be sold in rear or all-wheel drive, though Jaguar Australia's Tim Krieger says AWD won't be available locally at launch.The XF is due in Australia early next year and Krieger says it will reinforce the executive sedan's standing as a key rival to German prestige vehicles."The XE gives us a ‘conquest car' to pitch to younger buyers on the one hand and they can then aspire to the XF as a more focused luxury package on the other," he says.The XF was the third best-selling car in the over-$70,000 luxury segment last year and the new model brings major styling and interior updates, from edgier panel lines to a laser head-up display.Jaguar claims a first with ethernet connectivity. This is paired with the "InControl Touch Pro" infotainment option, which combines a 12.3-inch digital driver's display and 10.2‒inch touchscreen in a smartphone-styled interface.Users can add widgets to the main screen as a shortcut to favourite features. The navigation will transfer the pedestrian part of a route to the driver's smartphone to complete the journey.The phone can also be used to remotely check on the car and to start the aircon before the driver arrives.Infotainment is the new selling point and the XF is the most sophisticated example of how that can be deliveredJaguar vehicle line director Ian Hoban says convenience is a major consideration as buyers expect to be able to port their preferences from phone to car or from vehicle to vehicle."We used to talk about engines and transmissions at launches; now we're talking about connectivity and integrated apps. Infotainment is the new selling point and the XF is the most sophisticated example of how that can be delivered," he says.Despite being smaller and lower than the outgoing model the new car sits on a longer wheelbase. Along with a 28 per cent stiffer chassis, this improves its handling and boosts rear legroom.Krieger says pricing and spec have yet to be set. "We'll be competitivewith our rivals...as a challenger brand we know we have to offer more, be that on pricing or features."AT A GLANCEJaguar XFPrice: From $78,000 (est)Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 132kW/318Nm; 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo, 177kW/251Nm; 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel, 221kW/516Nm; 3.0-litre V6 supercharged, 250kW or 280kW/332NmTransmissions: 6-speed man, 8-speed auto; RWDThirst: 4.3L-8.3L/100km, 114g-198g/km CO2Dimensions: 4954mm (L), 1880mm (W), 1457mm (H)Weight: 1590kg-1710kg

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Kia Optima turbo, at its preview drive in the US.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Ferrari FF with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.